Filip Kovacovic's action sci-fi thriller 'INCARNATION' available now on DVD and Digital download in the US and Canada

'INCARNATION' follows a man who wakes on a park bench without any idea who he is until four assassins shoot him dead. He wakes on the same bench thinking his death was a dream until the assassins return and kill him again. Stuck in a hellish loop he tries to unravel the mystery and with each death he gets closer to the truth.

Films like this live and die by how the story is told as it dictates pace and at the same time keeps an audience invested. Much like 'Source Code' it uses a time loop scenario as a basis for a thrilling story but at the same time gives nothing away until the unexpected ending. 'Incarnation'  creates a belief that you can predict what is happening and what is going to happen but uses the "slight of hand" trick and suprises with each twist and turn. The film feels like a 90s thriller as it is unapologetic and maintains its own identity not falling into the trappings of trying to use flashy visuals and generic run of the mill dialogue and instead following its own path. 

Co-writer/Director Filip Kovacovic uses a documentary like approach to the film using alot of close up shots of characters which plays into conveying a real emotion as you feel every thought they have. The dialogue is simple but effective and often feels like it would play well as a novel and/or a stage play. Smaller budget films more often than not rely on the director and how he approaches telling the story which Kovacovic does with clear passion and enthusiasm. The film is filled with intelligent performances the compliment the well told narrative and feel both gritty and emotionallly open.

'Incarnation'  is a better than expected film. You dont really get what you need from just reading the synopsis or watching the trailer there is way more to it. It offers a gritty rollercoaster ride packed with some thrilling set pieces all wrapped up in a smart story.


'DONNA: Stronger Than Pretty' available now on Digital Download

Donna’s love story with Nick begins so sweetly. He charms her with all the right words and all the right actions that make it seem so easy and so possible to be happy. Nick’s words and actions change and become so abusive on every level that he makes it nearly impossible for Donna or their children to love him, or like him. As he makes one bad decision after another, Donna is forced to question her own bad decisions and why and how she both sacrifices her dreams and enables Nicks’s bad behaviour.

From the start this film is hard to watch. It opens with a fairy tale like atmosphere that at times feels dream like and too good to be true and over the course of the film it fades away into a more sinister nightmare. Within the current climate around the world the film highlights a growing problem which has been enhanced by the pandemic. At times the film is more grounded and real that people want to admit but at the same time it feels quite important and in ways educational like a psychological insight into the workings of a resiliant mind.

Director Jaret Martino really handles the subject matter with care and conveys an emotional grounding from start to finish. The film retains a very modest and stripped back feel to it much like a student film made for passion and belief of the narrative rather than a money making venture. Martino is very clever in how he paces the film slowing it to feel more organic which benefits the performances of the cast as they become central to the backbone of the film with the story just working with them. The films standout star is its leading lady Kate Amundsen as Donna who is the driving force and anchor to the narrative. Her performance is at times disturbingly real and you can feel the mental and physical drain that she and her character goes through. Amundsen really stands out  and her performance is something to take note of. Alongside Amundsen is a powerful performance from Anthony Ficco who is increasingly sinister over the run of the film. The audience cant help but build up a hate for Nick (Ficco)  as his darker side slowly comes into view and takes over but at the same time you cant help but appreciate the work Ficco gives to make the character believable. 

'DONNA: Stronger Than Pretty' is a dark but at the same time uplifting story showing the worth of a fighting spirit. It is a smartly told story with a hard hitting narrative that is fearless in its willingness to be real and show the darker truth. At times scary the story is enough to give you nightmares  but does bring attention to an incredibly sad issue that unfortunatly is still around and doesnt seem to be disappearing anytime soon.


When the Filmmaker is told his next film must be about crime, sex or celebrity to get funded, he takes matters into his own hands and begins shooting in his home with a cast of characters connected to his own life.

An off the wall but inventive concept that is oddly beautiful and life affirming. From the outside the film reads as very plain and in ways odd but it is quite an eye opening experience. It truly is unlike anything youll ever see with its varied and colorful array of characters that really ground the film and offer a true life touch.

Co-writer/Director Marc Isaacs offers possibly his most accomplished piece to date with 'The Filmmakers House' utilizing a guerilla style of filmmaking which adds a real depth to the experience. The concept is original and unique something which is unusual in the film industry at the minute and it is more than just an intriguing watch you could say it is more an experience. Isaacs is fearless in his approach challenging the audience to create their own understanding of the film and not handing them a generic and straight up narrative something even documentaries do. The film is packed with grounded and real characters which are engaging from the start.

The film is very slow paced but oddly it suits the tone and allows it to flow more organically and keeps the audience invested. Isaacs clever and thought provoking story is something to truly behold as a masterpiece and an inspiration for up and coming filmmakers and storytellers. Isaacs is a powerful storyteller and someone who deserves to be given more credit for his work.

Supernatural horror 'FACE OF THE DEVIL' available now on DVD and digital platforms

Vanessa Saba, Sergio Gjurinovic and Maria Fernanda Valera, star as city friends who travel to the Peruvian Amazon where they encounter the Tunche, a primeval spirit whose shrill whistle is an omen of impending death. But as they try to escape the Tunche they come to realise that the demon is already amongst them.

'Face of the Devil' is an old school approach to horror avoiding overly elaborate set pieces and relying on smartly paced atmospheric chills. In reality it is more a film for horror purists who will appreciate the films creative concept.

Director Frank Pérez-Garland uses a very stripped back approach putting more reliance on a grounded but entertaining story. While the story is at times a little muddled it does hold up thanks to the core narrative which is smartly paced and atmospheric. The film does pack a punch and is for the most part very unpredictable and has a very twisty ending. The film boasts a very talented cast who give measured performances in particular from Vanessa Saba who feels like the anchor for the rest of the cast. You can feel the cast are being challenged both mentally and physically but the all come across as very grounded and organically nurtured by director Pérez-Garland.

'Face of the Devil' is a film that might not be to everyones taste and it does have its faults but at the same time you have to believe too many people concentrate on points which audiences wont really pay attention to. It is a crazy film that is fun and has some really well layed out set pieces.

' My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To' available now on Digital Download

'My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To' is directed by Jonathan Cuartas and starring Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous, First Man), Ingrid Sophie Schram (Phantom Thread) and Owen Campbell (As You Are, The Miseducation of Cameron Post).

The film follows siblings Dwight (Patrick Fugit) and Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) who put all their energy into keeping their little brother Thomas (Owen Campbell) alive. But he craves human blood.

'My Heart Cant Beat Unless You Tell It To' is a smartly crafted slow burning horror that at times feels like it is set in the 70s using almost non distinct beckgrounds and production settings which creates a more story focused approach. it is hard to distinguish this as one type of genre where it does have an underlying horror narrative there is a well layed out family drama threaded into it. It slots right in with other slow burning horror like 'The Inkeepers' or 'The Others' these kinds of films often slip by more mainstream audiences as they do require some focus and story retention and are not just straight up entertainment.

Writer/director Jonathan Cuartas is a smart storyteller creating a downplayed original horror that is disturbing but at times oddly endearing. Using the family drama to enhance the grounded elements of the story  feeds into the realism and makes the story even more unnerving. Cuartas strips back the story to bare minimum making it feel like a play, something which it would have really worked as, it is a refreshing change to see original material like this and in truth they would benefit a mainstream audiences if they were given a chance.

The central three Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram and Owen Campbell give very impactful performances the are both controlled and at the same time feel very grounded. The trio have strong chemistry and trust with each other which shines through in their performances. Fugit has come so far since 'Almost Famous' with possibly his most mature performance to date.

' My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To'  is not for everyone but in truth it should be seen especially by up and coming actors.

Available now on digital download

'Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad' Available now on digtal platforms

Both inspirational and in ways poetic 'Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad' is an eye opening story of living and appreciating the life you have. It echoes a cultural movement that in ways is still felt even today and you cant help but live in admiration of the characters that fill out this film. The beauty of the film is that it feels nostalgic even if this wasnt your choice of play as a child the feeling of being free to be you without caring just ooozes from the screen in this one.

Documentaries over the last few years have become more cinematic in their execution and visuals often even including a form of factual narrative. With 'Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad' director Matt Harris creates a very organic feeling documantary that feels more like friends just chatting about their passions and shared love for the "worlds most unique skatepark". Passion is the key behind this groups story and through archival footage it looks back at the origins of this lifestyle and tracks the ever growing cultural movement through to present day and showcases the effect it had on the youths throughout the years. The film feels very personal both in scope and for the talent in front and behind the camera but it does have some beautifully crafted visuals. The Skate park plays an important role social for people struggling for an outlet. The often seen "anti-social" artform of Graffitti it utilized here in a beautiful and somewhat iconic way making the park a very unique place. 

'Rom Boys: 40 Years of Rad' is a one of a kind film looking at a phenomenon which impacted youths all over the world. It was a lifestyle choice that was mostly inhabited by people seen mostly as "outsiders" but their passion and drive in life is unmatched. Whether you know something about skate parks or not this is a beautiful and inspiring documantary that will open your eyes to a way of life you cant help but be drawn to.

'Sunflowers' will be in UK Cinemas from 8th June

Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers are some of the most iconic paintings in the world. What many mistake for one masterpiece, are actually five paintings of sunflowers in vases scattered across galleries in Amsterdam, London, Munich, Philadelphia and Tokyo. This extraordinary feature-length documentary film brings the spectacular series together on screen as never seen before.

The film offers an insight to a very guarded and unseen side to fine art and the passion that drives the people behind it. There is alot to be admired for the love that goes into the art and whether you are an art lover or not you can always appreciate the beauty it offers. It could be easy to mistake the story behind this series of artwork for a work of fiction as it could be percieved as being far fetched and over the top but the fact that it is the reality just gives an extra appeal to both the film and the work itself.

Award-winning director David Bickerstaff, who has made two previous films on the artist, Vincent van Gogh: A New Way of Seeing (2015) and Van Gogh & Japan (2019), says: “It was such a joy to witness how unique each version of the Sunflowers really was, evidence of Van Gogh’s exuberance for experimentation. This cinematic journey brought the sunflowers series into sharper focus for me and revealed a new insight to the tragic circumstances that followed. Drama, struggle and a passion for life can be seen in every dash of paint in the Sunflower paintings. In my opinion, each one shows an honesty and a virtuosity that speaks to the enduring power of an extraordinary artist, who lived an extraordinary life.”

Bickerstaff's passion for the subject is infectious and it shines through in his work. Working closely with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Sunflowers goes beyond a ‘virtual exhibition and goes deep into the stories behind each of the paintings bringing to light to eyeopening facts and revealing some very compelling mysteries that will suprise audiences. He lays out the documentary in a smart and informative way which keeps audiences engaged and entertained at the same time.

'Sunflowers' is something that in truth I was not sure I could fully appreciate, I am admittedly not a huge fan of fine art and I have limited knowledge on it but I can appreciate the skill behind them and the beauty they give. I can honestly say now that I am a fan of Director David Bickerstaff he is a smart story telly and has an eye for a co mpelling story.

'Sunflowers' is released in cinemas across the UK from 8 June, including Curzon, Everyman, Odeon, Picturehouse, Showcase, Vue and independent cinemas. 

'Undergods' will be in select cinemas and On Demand from May 17

In a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world, K and Z roam the streets on the lookout for corpses and something even more valuable - fresh meat. 'Undergods' is an intorwoven look at a scarily grounded and oddly believable future.

'Undergods' stars Kate Dickie (The Witch, Game of Thrones), Ned Dennehy (Mandy, Peaky Blinders), Geza Rohrig (Resistance, Son of Saul), Burn Gorman (Pacific Rim, Enola Holmes) and Tanya Reynolds (Emma., Sex Education).

A superbly crafted story that is a thriller as much as it is horror. At times it can be quite disturbing and uncomfortable to watch but at the same time there is an emotional tale threaded in between. The varied stages of the narrative are darkly comic and often satirical but much like PT Anderson's 'Magniola' cleverly it weaves a variation of narratives that are bound by a single storyline that is cleverly paced to engage the audience to a gripping extent.

Chino Moya is a writer/director who honed his skills through music videos and it does show throughout 'Undergods'. His slick and smooth stlye he puts into the visuals really bring the film to life and Moya has a real artists eye which makes the film immersive. 'Undergods'  feels like a graphic novel come to life, its stripped back colour pallet mixed with epic and large scale visuals add a very grounded dimension. Johann Myers and Géza Röhrig give standout performances that really drive the film. The pair are the heartbeat of the narrative even within this cleverly cast ensemble. You do have to wonder how much of this film you arent seeing in that if it had a larger platform possibly on a different media like as a book where more information and a wider story could be given.

'Undergods' is a hardhitting and cleverly constructed dark satirical story with a very epic feel to it but told in an indie way. Moya is a filmmaker who will only get better and 'Undergods' is the perfect platform where he can build and hone his feature career. He is a smart filmmaker and a powerful storyteller and 'Undergods' is a feast for film lovers looking for a hardhitting but entertaining story.


In this contemporary spin on the slasher genre, a group of New York teens arrange a party in Central Park where a masked executioner prepares to kill them one by one. Is the maniac the mythical wolfman rumoured to live in the park or is he a victim of corporate greed hell bent on revenge. The film stars Grace Van Patten (Under The Silver Lake), Ruby Modine (Satanic Panic), Deema Aitken (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Justin A Davis (FBI).

Much like the 'Scream' franchise 'Central Park' is a slasher story but with a more intelligent approach. You could see this being more highly regarded if it had been made with a larger budget and studio system behind it but in truth the more low key approach creates a grounded grittiness to it. 

Writer/Director Justin Reinsilber is very ambitious with this film and you can feel an influence of 70s and 80s horror particularly the video nasties of the 80s. The style and execution feels very much like a guerilla production, very fast and furious and in ways documentary like. The camera always feels more like an overseeing figure rather than a window into the story.  One of the most engaging factors through this film is the use of a haunting backstory that drives the narrtive and gives the audience a slow building mystique as well as a new cult figure. The film does boast quite the little ensemble cast most of which are straight out of some acclaimed cult films like 'Satanic Panic' and 'Under the Silver Lake' and 'Central Park' it self has all the base elements to be a cult favourite.

'Central Park' is just another of those entertaining low budget horror films that unfortunatly pass under the radarand dont always get the chance they need and deserve. It is again just testament to a team that love what they do and have a passion for film and telling a story. It has its faults but for me it is the clever back story that really got me as it was something different.

April 26th is the UK and Ireland release date where CENTRAL PARK will be available to buy on DVD from Asda, Amazon, HMV and to stream from Sky Store, Amazon Prime, i-Tunes and Google Play. May 5th is the Australia and New Zealand release date where the film will be available to stream from Fetch, Amazon Prime, i-Tunes and Google Play.

'Laddie: The Man Behind The Movies' will available to rent and buy from 26th April on Sky Store, iTunes/ Apple, YouTube, Google Play and Rakuten

'Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies' is the story of the Alan Ladd Jr. the Oscar-winning producer and his daughter’s journey to get to know her father not just as “Dad”, but the way his collaborators do—as a doyen of modern American cinema. Through interviews with George Lucas, Ridley Scott, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Affleck, Ron Howard, Morgan Freeman, Mel Brooks, Richard Donner, and more, Amanda Ladd-Jones endeavours to better understand her father, Alan Ladd, Jr.

Alan Ladd Jr is a man you probably have never heard of but his impact and influence on the world of film and cinema is huge and possibly more important than you think. Affectionately known to all as Laddie, he is the understated studio chief and Oscar-winning producer behind such films as Star Wars, Alien, Blade Runner, Chariots Of Fire, Police Academy, Braveheart, The Omen, Thelma and Louise, Young Frankenstein and Gone Baby Gone, whose intelligence, kindness, and unflagging faith in the people he hired turned him into one of the most successful movie moguls in Hollywood history. Just as important as his business savvy Laddie maintained a mentor like relationship to all he worked with  which became responsible for some of the most important films in cinema history.You can feel the personal nature of the film as a daughter  discovers her real father for the first time, it is a woman seeking a reconnection while also feeling proud and somewhat fulfilled in the man her father is.

The film from the start is a must for film fans but at the same time it is quite uplifting that it keeps all viewers engaged. You cant help but admire what Laddie has achieved in his career and as a film lover I find him truly inspirational and see him as someone who makes dreams real. Hearing words from some of the best known names in Hollywood you realize how important he was not only a mentor but also as a man. Laddie is a cultural icon in film and someone who deserves the label, legend.

Laddie is a very engrossing and informative documentary that has a bit of everything. It highlights the height and power of cinema particularly within the 70s and the 80s and Laddie's true understanding of film with him backing the likes of 'Blade Runner' and cult favourites like 'Police Academy' which might not have done great box office business but their impact feels timeless in their own individual way.


'Righteous Villains' available now on DVD & Digital Download

A young conman with nothing left to lose, and desperate for his next money-making scheme, receives a mysterious invite to join the New World Order, a secret society of powerful individuals that supposedly control every aspect of the world. The further he becomes entangled, he realizes the sinister motivations of the society are born from sorcery and black magic, but when you're in so deep, it's not always easy to find a way out.

'Righteous Villains' feels quite trippy and is a very off the wall concept that oddly in todays world feels scarily real and grounded. It walks a fine line between horror, fantasy and even thriller. To describe it is hard but imagine Guy Ritchie directing 'The Wicker Man' from a script by Darren Aronofsky, it is a dark but often comdic film that is more entertaining than you would think.

While it is not perfect, writer/director Savvas D.Michael creates a very down to earth and grounded approach  to a dark concept. The film feels raw visually which really enhances the story and gives it a creepy atmosphere and he uses this to also give it a documentary like angle. The film has some very impressive production design which is simple but very effective. The film boasts an all star cast including Gary Dourdan (CSI), Lois Brabin-Platt (Original Gangster), Adam Deacon (Anuvahood) and the iconic British actor, Steven Berkoff (Octopussy). Dourdan gives a performance that really feels like it anchors the cast as a whole and sets the bar for the others. Berkoff is as reliable as always he is both outgoing but at the same time you feel like you dont know what he might do. Adam Deacon is at his best here  shining as Satan, his performance feels free and "off the chain", with his scenes it does often feel like a one man show.

This film will have its haters but truth is it is not a perfect film but you could call it a guilty pleasure. Just entertaining and filled with fun performances that feel like they are right out of a graphic novel. 'Righteous Villains' is a dark comedy with some very smart set pieces and makes for an entertaining film night.


Mystery thriller, 'Sensation', available now on Digital Download

'Sensation' is the second film from Director Martin Grof, following his award-winning hit Excursion. Boasting an exciting cast, the film stars Eugene Simon (Game of Thrones, Genius) & Emily Wyatt (Hurricane, Rise of the Footsoldier: The Heist).

The film follows Andrew (Eugene Simon), who, while on a quest to uncover hidden truths about his family history, provides a top-secret agency with his DNA in order to uncover his ancestry. But it quickly becomes clear that his DNA holds just as many secrets as his mysterious past.

'Sensation' feels like a cross between the Bradley Cooper flick 'Limitless' and the cult favourite 'Heroes'. A smrtly laid out narrative adds a grounded realism to the film using an emotional core to drive it forward.'Sensation' is suprisingly slick and while it is at its base a sci-fi thrillerit also carries a gritty mystery that will keep you guessing from start to finish and leave you talking after the credits roll.

Co-writer/Director Martin Grof is a true story teller. Like Christopher Nolan and other filmmakers that are not afraid to go againt the grain and challenge the "normal" rules of storytelling, Grof challenges his audience to think as they watch the film using both visual and audio tricks. The film is visually beautiful and enhanced with some intelligently used fx and camera trickery. The story is laid out like a puzzle and in ways like a treasure hunt that unfolds at an ever changing pace. At heart it is a relativly simple premise but told in a smart and entertaining way.

Eugene Simon gives a strong and effective performance that at times feels somewhat improved particularly through the more intimate scenes. It could be argued that Simon's character does not feel quite developed enough and his story ark does feel at times unfulfilled but it oddly adds a little more appeal as it creates more of a mystique. The film is filled with simple performances that do exactly what they need to do and dont feel over the top  as can easily happen with indie sci fi flicks.

'Sensation' is a slick but gritty sci-fi mystery that makes for perfect saturday night watching. Indie film fans will appreciate the epic achievement and people looking for a good film for pure entertainment will just love the smart storytelling.


Available from 16th April on VOD in the UK comes 'PLAYHOUSE'

'PLAYHOUSE' follows Jack Travis a horror playwright well known for creating a real fear for his audiences. Along with his daughter he retreats to a castle located in the north of Scotland as he obsesses creating his new play with his new home being the location. But the castle has a history, one that does not want to go away and as his obsession grows his daughter begins to fall deeper into the growing darkness taking over the castle.

I was lucky enough to have spoken to the directors behind this film just as they were finishing up and the sneak peak into the film and how it came about didnt prepare me for what i saw. It is more of an atmospheric story rather than a straight out horror film you could say in the vein of Ti West's 'The Innkeepers' or even Alejandro Amenabar's 'The Others' , it is a slow burner that draws you in creating a feeling of unease as the narrative unfolds but you never quite know where it is going. 

'PLAYHOUSE' is the feature debut of  Writer/Director pair Fionn and Toby Watts. It is a very cleverly written story with a suprisingly grounded feeling narrative. From the outset 'PLAYHOUSE' almost feels like a love letter to hammer horror films of the 60s and 70s, it just feels original and even in ways more like a period piece. Whether it be a choice or just an organic manoeuvre dictated by the narrative the film has two very different tones. Within the castle walls the film feels like a period piece, everything from the set design lighting and even the costumes it feels almost out of time something that gives the story an extra depth of unease. The castle feels like it is a contained force of nature slowly coming alive. But then the few scenes outside the castle walls feel modern and more up to date, the contrast really does make for a more immersive experience. The camera work is set up smartly as it feels more like a roaming entity spying on these characters. The film has a stunning score that feels very grounded and dictates the tension of the scenes particularly the more personal ones where you can feel the impending darkness creeping in. 

Some standout performances really drive the film and feel very raw and often theatrical. The theatrical feel to the performances really play into the atmosphere created within the castle walls and you could easily see this film as a stage play thanks to its smart approach to limited characters and location. William Holstead as Jack Travis gives a performance that really anchors the film and his intensity is really the bar for the suspense which grows more and more through the film and feels like it could break at any time. Grace Courtney is perfectly cast as she plays a very innocent character you just feel has alot more to her than meets the eye but you just cant quite put your finger on what it actually is. The film does feel like an ensemble with its smartly written characters each hold there own but take one away and the story doesnt quite work.

'PLAYHOUSE' is a very good story told in a simple but effective way. If you just want a horror film then this probably is not for you but if you want a smartly told ghost story with a suprisingly gripping back story then give this a go. For me the back story here is the key to it succeeding as it really does back up what is going on but at the same time it offers a history something alot of indie horrors dont do enough of.  The climax of the film is something I was not expecting both in terms of visual as well as character. Arguments could be made that some characters needed a little more development  which the film would need a longer runtime for but there is more than enough here to draw you in and as an indie film it is a more than successful accomplishment.

#ComePlayWithUs #Playhouse

'Me You Madness' will be available on Digital Download from 19th April


'Me You Madness' is Louise Linton's first experience of writing and directing. She also stars, playing Catherine Black; a ruthlessly ambitious, intelligent and successful business woman who happens to also be gorgeous. She lives a life of luxury: architectural dream house in Malibu, exclusive designer fashions, fast cars and exquisite jewelry. She has no need for a man except to satisfy her natural serial killer instinct. When Tyler (Ed Westwick), a petty thief, responds to her online roommate ad, he thinks he’s struck a goldmine. He has no idea after a night of partying and passion that he is really just on the menu as her next victim. Things go according to plan, until Tyler falls for Catherine. For the first time in her life, she also starts to fall for him. Catherine’s life may change until Tyler discovers the freezer filled with the severed heads and limbs of her previous dates. She must decide whether to kill Tyler to protect her secret, or start a new life worth living with a man.

Like 'American Psycho' but with a James Gunn script 'Me You Madness' is fun in a very dark way, you could even say like a more extreme 'Mr and Mrs Smith'. Linton's slick and stylish film really hits all the right entertainment notes and it is very hard to really pin down where and in what genre it belongs. Some very shocking and dark scenes are stylised by some very smart comedic timing.

Writer/Director Louise Linton creates a very funny but oddly gritty film with a very sharp and colourful script that carries slick and effective dialogue. Linton shows alot of promise and confidence as a filmmaker and storyteller, the limited locations and charcters yet strength of narrative really shows alot of skill. The film has a quirkiness to it that you find more in slapstick comedies and spoofs but the way Linton develops her characters it feels grounded but with just a hint of comedy and even horror. Ed Westwick gives a great comedy performance sowing some suprisingly good timing we are not really used to seeing from him, but you do feel like he is having the time of his life. This film though is a showcase for Linton aside from writing and directing she gives a stellar turn with a smart,seductive and beautifully crazy performance. The voice overs add a look into the mind of the characters and often films that use this feel simple but here it is effective due to the fragile nature of the central players.

'Me you Madness'  is fun and entertaining pure and simple. It is a smartly written story that is witty and packs a punch. If you want a fun ride that has a dark edge this is the film for you.

Prepare for some serious serious fun this spring. 'Me You Madness' will be available on iTunes, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Sky Store, Sony, TalkTalk in the UK and Ireland on 19th April.



'Shortcut' available now on DVD and Digital download

A group of five British teenagers are taking their usual school bus home when an unexpected detour turns their night into a nightmare. But this isn’t your average night, as a rare lunar eclipse is on the cards, as Nolan (Jack Kane) and his classmates; Bess (Sophie Jane Oliver), Karl (Zander Emlano), Queenie (Molly Dew) and Reggie (Zak Sutcliffe) soon discover.

'Shortcut' is an old school style horror flick that will please the more hardcore horror fans. It feels like a mix of 'Wrong Turn' and 'Jeepers Creepers 2'  but smartly avoids the mostly slasher film generic and predictable markers. It is at times darkly comic but it does avoid being overly comedic and it could easily have fit in with the cinema of the 80s and the "video nasties". 'Shortcut' is a creature feature that uses its central monster as the main draw but does still retain a passable story which is strengthened by the clever back story.

Director Alessio Liguori works from a script by Daniele Cosci and together they create what feels like a film made by a team raised on creature features and 80s horror. Liguori takes a simple approach to how he executes this smart and often fun story avoiding cliche setups and plotlines and instead lays the narrative at a quite quick pace which feels more organic. He uses the camera effectivly and creates a docu drama style but it does become more eratic at times when the films tone goes darker.

'Shortcut' is fun and at times off the wall film that really ticks the nostalgic boxes for horror fans. As a fan of creature feature I really apprciated the execution and in particular the creature design.Films like this often lack substance and while the story is far from perfect it is the back story that makes it more solid and gives the film extra depth.



Starring Lucie Bourdeu (En Famille, Kings for a Day) and rising UK star Jonathan Ajayi (Noughts & Crosses , Wonder Woman 1984 ) 'THE DRIFTERS' is a love story about identity and place in a post - Brexit United Kingdom. Koffee , an African migrant, and Fanny, a French waitress, are two lost souls who attempt to find home in one another and escape the labels that inevitably leave them homeless.

Written and Directed by Benjamin Bond (BAFTA Nominated SKINS, Killing Bono, Delta Forever) 'THE DRIFTERS' is produced by BAFTA award-winning producer and development executive Iona Sweeney (Lizard Girl, Found), and executive produced by Andy Brunskill (Jet Trash, Lilting, Homebound), Elinor Day (East Is East, Charlotte Gray, The Warrior, Killing Me Softly, Killing Eve), Paul Ashton (Calibre, Adult Life Skills, Shifty, Westwood), Evan Leighton-Davis (Sweetheart), Ben Thompson (Brooklands) and Patrick Milling-Smith (Wild Geese, Becket).

'The Drifters' is an eye opening character study the shines a light on the very real struggle to find meaning in an ever changing world. Films like this dont come along very often and they do remind you about the power of storytelling and the need for relatable and grounded characters. From the sombre opening it feels all too real and the well crafted story does open up alot of avenues for conversation and even debate.

Writer/Director Benjamin Bond is a very smart storyteller creating an epic feeling tale shown through an independent scope. Bond's script is beautifully crafted and very bold in its execution as it opens up a very emotionally driven narrative that is at times almost darkly comic but never drifts from its powerful core. 'The Drifters' has all the hallmarks of a storyteller really finding his voice  and his identity as a filmmaker. This is a back to basics film that is everything you want from a plain and simple well told story that is made from pure passion for the arts. Jonathan Ajayi and Lucie Bourdeu giver stripped back powerful performances that will draw you in from the start as you follow their journey almost like a third person. At times the films style feels almost documentary like , found footage of a journey through a changing world in the footsteps of dreamers.

'The Drifters' is a beautiful film, one thats simplicity is to be admired in how effective it still is. A script like this is something film students can use as they look to learn the craft of storytelling. Bond is someone who will only get better and is a filmmaker to look out for in the future.


Written by Adam Stephen Kelly (Done In, Kill Kane) and directed by James Crow (House of Salem), the film stars genre veterans Billy Murray (Rise of the Footsoldier), Frank Harper (The Football Factory), Nick Moran (Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels) and Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott (The Krays Dead Man Walking).

When underworld kingpin John Morgan (Billy Murray) returns to London with his wife Sadie (Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott) from their perfect life abroad, a feud is reignited with vengeful cop Frank Conway (Nick Moran), who is obsessed with bringing him down. Meanwhile, pressure from big boss Damien Osbourne (Bruce Payne) only adds unnecessary heat to the rising tension within the family busines, with Morgan’s brother Richard (Frank Harper) and nephew Eddie (Danny Bear) constantly at each other’s throats. John aims to bring the Morgan gang together at a party in his plush apartment, where they are set to meet his daughter Kate’s (Ambra Moore) new girlfriend Zoe (Lucy Aarden). The night quickly takes a dark turn as a deadly game slowly unfolds. 

'Nemesis' is a balls to the wall old school gangster flick that really packs a punch. British gangster films can often feel generic and almost paint by numbers but 'Nemesis' smartly avoids the cliche scenarios and really foucuses on grounded and very real feeling characters. 

Director James Crow is a smart storyteller and with 'Nemesis' he really brings the characters and the actors performances to the front to really drive the narrative rather than the narrative driving them. Using this allows the film to feel more fluid and well paced almost like a play. At times it feels shakesperian brutal and full of impact but at times it can be quite beautiful. Crow is clearly a fan of cinema as his visuals feel simple but cinematic much like the thrillers of the 70s, but story is put and noted as the most important meaning he avoids using fancy fx or camera moves.Easily the best thing the film has though is the incredible score. Beautiful but gritty music that feels epic but with a personal and emotional scope. The best actors are those who make their performances look more second nature rather than rehearsed, Billy Murray leads this film with a raw but vulnerable turn. He is an experienced actor who makes it look effortless and he really anchors what is a very well cast film. Alongside Murray, Nick Moran and  Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott give very impactful performances that are both bold and fearless.

'Nemesis' is not perfect but it is entertaining and a good addition to the brit gangster flick catalogue. A better than expected story really creates an immersive and grounded narrative that draws in the audience and where you think you can predict where it is going, you cant but truth is you dont want to. Just enjoy this film for what it is, a well told brit gangster flick wrapped within the thriller genre.

'LAST CALL' is coming to Digital Download on 29th March

The film boasts an all-star cast that includes Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Mr Selfridge), Bruce Dern (Nebraska, The Hateful Eight), Taryn Manning (Orange Is the New Black), Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull), Jamie Kennedy (Scream) and Jack McGee (The Fighter).

'Last Call' follows local success story and real estate developer, Mick (Jeremy Piven) as he returns home to Philadelphia. As he begins to reconnect with the neighbourhood he grew up in and the people he left behind, he finds himself at a crossroads when forced to decide either to demolish or resurrect the family bar.

From the start this film is charming, colourful and full of character. 'Last Call' is a very 80's style feel good film that is has an emotionally driven emotional core. Much like a Cameron Crowe film (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) it runs a fine balance between comedy and emotional character based drama. 

Co-Writer/Director Paolo Pilladi does a great job handling what could have been a very slow and drawn out narrative and laying out the scenes to feel almost improvised. This story could have easily been played out on a stage as a play with its varying characters. Pilladi is clever in how he uses the camera as he creates a documentary like style to the visuals even with his fill shots between scenes you feel more like a third person observer. The film really does use music much like an 80s film as the score is there but only to accompany a scene but it is the use of songs to set a tone that really benefits the film. Jeremy Piven is one of the most underrated actors around and he really looks like he is having the time of his life here giving a very simple but effective performance. Piven really drives the narrative forward with his starring turn but the ensemble as a whole have clear chemistry which really shines through.

'Last Call' is a beautiful film. Well written characters fill out a sometimes slow but quite engrossing narrative. It is easy to get lost in this film as it feels very real and almost nostalgic. It is not a perfect film but it is a very entertaining and charming story. 

'Come True' will be available on Digital Download from 15th March & on Limited Edition Blu-ray from 5th April

Plagued by nightmares, a troubled teenager signs up to a sleep disorder study. Hoping that will finally stop her sinister dreams, she unknowingly becomes the channel to a horrifying new discovery.

'Come True' is a very smartly told story that treads a fine line between horror and thriller. From is stripped back atmospehric to the simplistic approach to storytelling it has elements and hallmarks of films like 'Ring' and 'The Grudge' and it is bold in how it plays to audiences. 

Directed by Anthony Scott Burns (Our House) 'Come True' feels like a film made by some one brimming with film student style enthusiasm. Burns uses simple but effective methods allowing the story to be the driving force rather than fancy camera movements or vfx. There is a documentary like feel to the film with the camera feeling more like an overseeing eye rather than a window to the story. The colours are diluted and the more basic pallet adds a depth to the narrative enahncing the dream like state that is present throughout. Burns script is very slow but this benefits the story as it becomes more mysterious and immersive as it unfolds. Possibly the best and most attractive point the film offers is its impactful score. From the start the music is almost the pulse of the film filling each dramatic beat with new layers making it stand out.

The film stars Julia Sarah Stone (Honey Bee, Weirdos) and Landon Liboiron (Truth or Dare). Stone is really the heartbeat of the film giving a commanding performance but in a stripped back and simple way. Watching it you can see Stone challenged both mentally and physically in a narrtive that leaves the audience breathless as it is a story you cant predict as much as you sometimes might think you can. Smartly though Stone is grounded in her performance but at the same time she maintains an element of mystery about her character showing her to vulnerable but at the same time often unsettling.

'Come True' is nightmarish and at times disturbing and even gritty. Like a dream where you cant see what is coming and you feel on edge because there is a constant building tension that is intentionally slow buring. It is like walking on a tight rope where it feels slow but at any moment things could lose control.

'Foster Boy' available now on digital download


'Foster Boy' is a well crafted story that has both impact and an effective simplicity. Films like this can often slip by and not be appreciated for the power they have. In todays society a story like this really resonates and shines a light on some very important and even disturbing things that arent always seen.

Director Youssef Delara smartly allows this story to feel organic and he avoids using fancy camera movements or over active plot points which creates a focus on narrative and performance. The story has an energy but is very slow paced and while it doesnt feel like a thriller it does have a grittyness built into the intensly powerful dramatic narrative.  Screen legends Matthew Modine (Dark Knight Rises, Full Metal Jacket) and Louis Gossett Jr (Roots, An Officer and A Gentleman) add some real credibility to a very well rounded cast. The real star of the show though is Shane Paul McGhie (What Men Want) his performance anchors the story and film as a whole.His approach is very stripped back but feels so natural and grounded but the key is the vulnerability which is just below the surface in every scene he is in.

'Foster Boy' is one of those films that when you read the subject matter it could easily put you off but in truth it does have a number of redeeming factors such as the power of the human spirit and the need for empathy. It uses a very raw and sometimes disturbing narrative to highlight some very real issues.

THE ICE CREAM TRUCK, a surreal, suburban, slasher available now on DVD and digital download

Deanna Russo (Being Human) stars as a lonely housewife who moves back to her home town where she captures the attention of her neighbours teenage son. Her forbidden fantasies and neurotic anxieties manifest themselves in the form of an evil slasher that stalks the suburbs in an ice cream truck.

A very off the wall and almost retro feeling film that will please fans of old school horror. From the start it is very atmospheric and almost fantasy like but it never tries to be something it is not  which alot of horror films try to do especially low budget horror. At times it is darkly comic and that just adds to the films appeal in that it just makes it fun. 

'THE ICE CREAM TRUCK' was written and directed by Megan Freels Johnston, grandaughter of the iconic American crime novelist Elmore Leonard, and you can feel Johnston's love of the horror genre. You could say it is almost traditional in everything from style, character and story narrative especially with the outlandish villain, who is both creepy and imposing but in a very simple way. Johnston smartly doesnt overplay the film and keeps it straight forward and grounded, it is purely and simply a fun and darkly comic horror.

Deanna Russo gives a very simple performance but with horror it can be easy to over play characters and make the film overly cheesy. Emil Johnsen as the Ice Cream man creates a very effective villain with an almost deadpan performance that is at times  you feel is quite vulnerable too. One of the best parts of the film is a very inventive way of using music mixing in with the chimes of the ice cream van it adds to the depth and impact of the imposing madness.

'The Ice Cream Truck' is not perfect and you could pick apart details here and there but why would you? Just accept it for what it is, a fun and dakly comic horror story. It will make you look at ice cream trucks in a whole new way.


Brutal independent Canadian horror 'Butchers' available now on Digital Download and DVD on 8th March


'Butchers' is the hardcore horror fans dream, brutal, unflinching but at the same time it has a very well crafted narrative. There are obvious comparisons to the 'Wrong Turn' franchise but 'Butchers uses  better developed and more rounded charcters. Using the basic and generic "stranded people" as a base it builds a cat and mouse story that stciks to what it is and doesnt try to be something different as alot of indie horror films can do. It gives off a 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' tone in its brutal but focused nature.

Co-Writer/Director Adrian Langley is smart in his approach as he strips back any frills and set pieces and creates a more old school feeling horror where it is driven by tension and an ever increasing pressure that could snap at any time. Much like the horror of the 70s and 80s the story feels both obvious and predictable but it is shared with the audience and paced in a way where even though you pretty much know what is coming you feel tense waiting for it. 

The film uses low key but effective performances that keep the film grounded but still keep you invested in the characters. It is easy and it happens more often than not to pretty much ignore an actors performance in horror and especially in indie horror and just get caught up in the scares/blood. There are faults if you want to pick at them like characters needing more development etc but there is enough here to keep you on the hook and watching till the end.

'Butchers' has issues and things you could pick at but it is unapoligetic and knows exactly what it is, a balls to the wall horror. 

'The Curse Of Dracula' available now on digital download and DVD.

Two small-time crooks scam tourists by organising a guided tour of a creepy manor house rumored to be haunted by the cousin of Count Dracula. Their first group consist of a Swedish Satanist, French goths and a Russian porn director. But the tour descends into bloody chaos when they are confronted by a mysterious phantom wielding a circular saw.

Vampire films are for the most part predictable and generic and lack originality. 'The Curse Of Dracula' uses some of the traditional elements but grounds it with a smarter than expected narrative. The european setting shines through and adds a dimension to the films tone and in ways creates a believability to the story. 

Writer/director Tomaz Gorkic is a smart storyteller who doesnt give anything away, he paces the story as a slow burner drip feeding small but important details to audience a little at a time. he controls the audiences emotions and expectations this way as the narrative unfolds. Within some intense scenes he uses simple techniques like creating what seem to be predictable set pieces then like slight of hand traicks he hits you with something you dont see coming. 

A very well rounded ensemble cast give stripped back performances that at times feel theatrical in how they come across to the audience. You could pick apart story development but Gorkic's script carries enough weight and to keep you invested in the characters and his cast really drive the narrative.

'The Curse Of Dracula' is suprisingly slick and gritty. As it opens you feel like you know where it is going but it is not where you expect. Part slasher story part supernatural it is a bit of an unusual story that is hard to pin down to one particular style of horror film.


'Red Latex' available from 22nd February on digital download

A young husband escapes his pregnant wife and her smothering family to find refuge with a dominatrix.

This film has elements of Alfonso Cuaron's 2001 cult classic road movie 'Y Tu Mama Tambien', a young man searches  for some sort of meaning as his life begins to feel somewhat unmanagable and out of control. The sexual mix within the story just adds depth as the young man explores new avenues of life which he has been sheltered from  or has in someways repressed his hidden desire for. In truth you would expect a story like this to be predictable as it reads as a very generic film but it is suprisingly refreshing and oddly more gritty than youd expect.

Writer/Director Gerard Marco is careful in how he crafts the story as it could have easily become over sexual and fallen into the cheesey catagory films like this try so hard to avoid. It is a very simple film that is reliant on a smartly written and paced story that does have its faults but keeps you invested by treading a fine line between thriller and erotic drama. 'Fifty Shades of Grey' brought the erotic story to mainstream audiences  and while the reception was mixed Marco's film uses what it started to develop a somwhat more rounded story. Casting would be a major factor to this film and Marco creates a very strong small ensemble that give simple but impactful performances.

'Red Latex' is a film with flaws but is oddly hypnotic. Real and grounded characters are very relatable and while they do feel a little under developed in areas they do keep you talking. Films that leave you with questions and sometimes frustrations are often the best as they make you need more and often return for a second viewing.


Award winning crime thriller 'SKIN COLLECTOR' available now on DVD and VOD.

John Jarratt (Wolf Creek) stars as a serial killer who develops an unhealthy obsession with the only victim to survive his attack. Danielle Harris (Halloween) stars as the victim, a shy young secretary with an indomnitable will to survive. When the psychopath penetrates police lines to abduct his target, she must draw on all her resources to survive the ordeal. Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) and Rae Dawn Chong (Commando) are detectives charged with bringing the killer to justice.

A very intense ride that finely balances horror and thriller maintaining a very gritty edge throughout. Often serial killer/slasher films just ride on the generic and tried and tested killer just kills everyone narrative but with 'Skin Collector (aka 'Shiver')' there is an added dimension of obsession and even a feeling of an unbalanced human mental stability. These just create a deeper look into the mind of a killer and a man looking for what he believes to be a purpose.

Director Julian Richards is ambitious in his approach developing a very interesting character at the centre of the story and building around him rather than creating the story and in putting the characters later, it just creates a more focused narrative. He paces the story relatively slowly but the story benefits from it as it opens up room to develop the story with a more mysterious layout meaning the audience have an almost third person viewpoint to watch from. 

Cult actress Danielle Harris (Halloween 4 and 5) gives a very accomplished and confident performance where she looks like she is truly enjoying what she is doing. For the most part Harris has always had that "horror actress" label that can drag some down but she is always reliable and effective in each role she takes. Harris goes through everything in 'Skin Collector' both mentally and physically but she is commited throughout and has really good chemistry with her co star John Jarratt. 'Wolf Creek' star John Jarratt feels like the films anchor as his performance really drives the stories emotional and often disturbing narrative.

Horror films are always victims to critics and far too many look for issues rather than allowing themselves to be drawn in. Fans of festivals such as frightfest will appreciate what 'Skin Collector' offers but as you can expect this wont be for everyone. It is not really a date movie but it is an effective and gritty horror/thriller that is different and very unpredictable.

Mind-blowing Documentary narrated by Brie Larson, 'FANTASTIC FUNGI' available on Apple TV, Amazon and Google Play


'Fantastic Fungi' is a visually stunning look into a world that is both eye opening and almost spiritual. An indepth dive into the natural world that has a wider reaching impact than you might first expect. The fungi world has a varied range of both uses and effects from medicinal to even deadly with some that can cause death. For the most part the various types and their effects are mostly unknown. There is a beauty to the Fungi world that is almost supernatural even other worldly some of which could be quite hypnotic.

Director  Louie Schwartzberg’s documentary uses time lapse technology to the best effect  as it really creates a fairy tale visual story to the creation process. Schwartzberg is really fearless in his execution of this documentary and you can feel the passion and belief from those behind and in front of the camera. Documentaries now have become more cinematic over the years and mainstream audiences have really began to take notice, growing box office can show that. 'Fantastic Fungi' has the visual prescence to draw in a mainstream audiences and it is packed with hardhitting information that will make you look differently at the world around you.

This is not a documentary I would normally take notice of and in truth I really should and I do see that now. In this world which is changing everyday and often for the worse and the one thing that retains its constant beauty and impact is the natural world around us.

Critically acclaimed documentary 'AGAINST THE TIDES' available On Demand from 1st March 2021 in the UK & Ireland, 2nd March 2021 in North America and 8th March in Australia/NZ

'AGAINST THE TIDES' is an award-winning feature-length documentary that follows British ultra-marathon swimmer and world record holder Beth French, as she sets out to swim across seven of the world's most dangerous sea-channels – an extreme challenge called Oceans Seven. Produced by three-times BAFTA & EMMY Nominee Nick Read, 'AGAINST THE TIDES' was directed by Stefan Stuckert, a BAFTA-nominated and award-winning director who series-directed several of Channel 4’s hugely successful DERREN BROWN shows. His short film MEDIUM RARE won several awards, has had over 2m YouTube hits, and was screened at 70+film festivals worldwide.  

Beth French is someone you most likely have not heard of but she is a beacon for the human spirit and what it can achieve with the right push. This extraordinary and eye opening story is about determination and persistance but at the same time it has a very grounded and human narrative that is very emotionally driven. French's home life is packed with  love but also with challeneges but she is a powerfully positive person. Director Stefan Stuckert said: "The first time I met Beth, I was gripped by her story, both because of the incredible challenge she set herself and her complex backstory. Beth is a character full of apparent contradictions: a record-breaking athlete who was bedridden in her youth, a country girl who became a Buddhist nun and an adventurer who homeschools her autistic son."  

Watching the film you see the epic scale of French's story and the challenge she is undertaking. The scope of the documentary and the challenges it would bring in front and behind the camera  is something Director Stefan Stuckert was aware of from the start "I  knew that it was not an easy story to tell. There were multiple narrative layers that needed prioritising and, of course, there were many financial and logistical challenges. "What if she fails or gets injured and has to stop halfway through the swims?" was a frequent question we heard from potential funders. From a visual perspective, we thought a lot about how to capture the emotions and struggles of a long-distance swimmer when, for most of time, she'd be submerged in the water. And, on a more practical level, nothing quite prepared us for filming day and night on a small boat in mid-ocean; sea-sickness was a constant companion!" The best thing the documentary offers is a fine balance between the huge challenge ahead of French and then her more grounded home life, this just offers a more human touch and makes you see she is just a normal person just with a strong spirit.

'Against the Tides' is one of those films that stand out because it has everything and makes you feel just about every emotion you possibly can. It really holds up and while you might think you know the story you really dont, the film is unpredictable and filled with ups and downs. But the constant throughout is the presence of Beth French, while the film tells the story of her epic undertaking it is French who remains the most intriguing focus point.



In a world destroyed by biological warfare a man wakes in a pile of decomposed bodies with no memory of his previous life. Taken prisoner by scavengers, he meets a young woman who helps him discover his true identity.

Take 'Mad Max', 'The Road' and '28 Days Later' put them in  a blender and let rip and you will get 'I Am Toxic'. The spanish language horror is at times brutal and intense but carries a thriller like grittiness. It smartly avoids being generic by using fantastical but grounded characters that feel like they have been lifted from the pages of a graphic novel. The film does at times lack an emotional connection within its narrative  but uses an almost slight of hand trick using some impressive set pieces as a distraction.

Director Pablo Pares creates an almost documentary feel to the style of the film allowing for a more grounded visual element. The style aids the feel of the film as it extends the effect of the narrative and the way it plays out. Pares adds an extra dimension to the feel of the film using a very filtered colour pallett and an almost dust like effect. 'Mad Max' defiently feels like an inspiration here in most forms from set design down to visual style but it avoids being a straight up copy thanks to a more grounded narrative.

Small indie horror films for the most part lack key and impactful performances but 'I Am Toxic' with a smart approach is full of more understated and effective characters.It just allows actors to be more themselves and gives them room to tell the story rather than be almost competing to stand out.

'I Am Toxic' is a dream for horror fans but in truth it wont be for everyone. It is a clever little film that is more entertaining than you might think. Graphic novel fans will enjoy this too asthe film does feel like it would make a good one from its grounded and gritty characters to its multi genre covering story.

Mark Sheridan's occult horror 'CRONE WOOD' will be available on DVD and digital download from February 1st 2021.

Elva Trill (Line of Duty) and Ed Murphy (Vikings) star as a young couple who embark on a camping adventure in the countryside. They choose Crone Wood, an infamous spot with a history of witches and folklore. But as the darkness settles, strange noises can be heard and mysterious lights are spotted between the trees. What starts out as a curiosity, quickly descends into a nightmare as the two discover that the horrors of Crone Wood go far beyond local legend. Thrown into a world of cults and ritualistic murder, they quickly discover that pagan Ireland is alive and well.

'Crone Wood' is superb. It is a well told story that becomes more effective with its smartly laid out folklore surrounding the narrative. The film treads a fine line between out and out horror and eerie ghost story that at times feel like the ones you hear as a child. Smartly the film establishes a very effective 'Wicker Man' like back story that unfolds over a very slow burning but intense narrative that is very unique and unpredictable.

Writer/Director Mark Sheridan creates a simple but effective story that has a heavy reliance on atmosphere. The film setting is its biggest strength as it really dictates both the tone and even the pace of the story.Smartly Sheridan lays out the film to effect the audiences experience. The effective camera work  and lighting has a similar impact to that 'Paranormal Activity' had when it was first release. Some scenes feel long and at times very slow but it oddly works carrying the audiences attention and dictating their anticipation. Its simple and stripped back approach feels at times like a staged play rather than a film an effect horror films benefit from as it creates a better connection with the audience and is more of an immersive experience.

Elva Trill and Ed Murphy give very grounded but impactful performances and pretty much anchor the film from a character standpoint. Horror is little known for strong performances but 'Crone Wood' feels very open ended meaning actors are very flexible and allowed to really express themselves. You can almost see that Sheridan is a very good actors director with the cast showing great chemistry and the buddy like approach benefits the execution of the film.

'Crone Wood' is the sort of film I really love. A horror film that actually has a back story rather than just a one, two done punch. Sheridan is clearly a good storyteller who has an effective approach to filmmaking. It has a similar impact to 'Blair Witch' where the back story is its biggest selling point and the narrative is there to just compliment it.

'THE EXCEPTION' - Danish Psychological Thriller available now on digital platforms


Based on the novel by Christian Jungersen, The Exception stars Raised By Wolves actor Amanda Collin, Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen & Westworld), Lene Maria Christensen (Terribly Happy & The Legacy) and Danica Curcic (The Mist & Silent Heart). 

Adapted for the screen by Christian Torpe, 'The Exception' is one of those films that smartly lays out a well paced narrative that unfolds slowly over the course of the film and avoids giving too much away at once. The story is very character driven with a very emotional cor that at times feels very open ended and unpredictable. Director Jesper W.Nielsen creates an intense and tightly wound atmosphere theat maintains a slow burning build filled with paranoia and intrigue. Nielsen goes back to basics with his storytelling style allowing the actors and their performances to be the films backbone enhancing the already smartly written story.

Amanda Collin, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Lene Maria Christensen and Danica Curcic are the inning formula to the film. They give powerful but vulnerable performances that are emotionally driven but at the same time very grounded and real. The best performances are stripped back and simple and the four leading ladies really make use of that where at times they feel more like they are acting for the stage.

'The Exception' is a film actors will learn alot from, a simple but effective story that allows actors to shine. A mysterious intense and gritty story that is well executed and very unpredictable a step away from most thrillers we see now which are for the most part pretty generic.


Animated Masterpiece 'AWAY' Coming to Digital Download Platforms from 18th January

'AWAY' is about a boy travelling across an island on a motorcycle, trying to escape a dark spirit and get back home. Along the way he makes a series of connections with different animals and reflects on the possible ways he ended up on the island. This dream like story explores the human desire for connection and hope in an ever changing landscape.

This stunning film has the same impact as the films from the acclaimed studio Ghibli, it goes beyond being just animation. It uses the boys journey almost like an insight into a persons mind as they journey towards self realisation but the mystrey is what is behind him? It smartly treads a fine line between fantasy and horror and really utilizes all elements to create a real and emotionally intense story.

Director, writer, producer, animator and film score creator Gints Zilbalodis creates some astounding visuals to accompany his smartly written story, even though the film is dialogue free. The choice to use a more enhanced score and musical pacing to the narrative really deepens the connection the film  makes with the audience. The beautifully crafted score really is the anchor to the film and dictates how you interpret the visuals and at times you can be taken away by it. Films like this should be viewed on the biggest screen possible and in an ideal world would be available on the big screen as the epic and striking visuals are the sort of thing cinema is made for.

'Away' is an experience and is up there with some of the best animated films like 'Spirited Away'.While it is at times quite a mind trip it does leave you with questions and like the best films do it makes you want to go back for another viewing. 

'Never Be Done: The Richard Glenn Lett Story' availabble now on digital platforms

Vicious, raw and emotional the film tracks a roller coaster of a journey  for the once acclaimed Canadian comedian  Richard Lett as he goes from the top to the rock bottom. Fighting addiction to both drugs and alcohol Lett's battle drags him to the edge of sanity as his life spirals out of control until he finds himself with nothing.

Director Roy Tighe's eye opening documentary is hard to watch but at the same time oddly endearing and grounded. He is fearless in his approach to showing this man slowly losing touch with the world as he falls into dispair but he steers away from telling a story and instead allows the emotions to carry the film forward as alot of films like this can feel controlled and too well laid out. 

This film tells the story from addiction to redemtion and while it is something that can be uncomfortable to watch Lett is open and honest with the demons that plague him as he fights to forge a way back to life. His honesty and openess is admirable as he refuses to hide the real him  and you cant help but feel sympathy for him even though Lett totally loses empathy for anyone and everyone around him due to his growing issues with addiction. But while addiction gripped him he did refuse to accept sympathy but his state is both clear and heart breaking. But Lett refuses to stay down asd he hits rock bottom his attitude almost switches and his fight back to redemption is on and he rediscovers himself both mentally and physically.

The current world is a crazy place and stories of redemption  are often predictable and generic but Richard Lett's personality alone makes the film unpredictable. The film is oddly gripping and feels fictionalized but its reality really shines through and hits hard. This film is not for everyone but those who are willing to give it a chance will become addicted and myself I felt like I had to watch it twice and will probably revisit it again there is more to Richard Lett than you will realize and this film gives you an insight to this brilliant but more often flawed man.

FIVE DATES – a completely live action, interactive rom-com film available now on digital download for Windows & Mac via Steam as well as PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Entirely conceptualized, filmed and developed during lockdown - Vinny, a millennial from London, joins a dating app for the first time while living in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. With five potential female matches, Vinny explores whether compatibility, chemistry and connection is still possible in a world where physical touch is no longer an option. He must pluck up the courage to video date with wildly different personalities. The viewer’s choices will define Vinny’s interactions with each date and their interest in seeing him again. Vinny is faced with digital game dates, awkward scenarios and unexpected truths.

Interactive films are slowly finding their place and becoming more prominent but they dont always really work. 'Five Dates' is a very grounded and relatable concept that smartly uses the real wolrd situation and creates a very entertaining story to brighten up the gloomy times. 'Five Dates' is the bain child of writer/director Paul Raschid (The Complex, White Chamber) and stars Taheen Modak (Two Weeks To Live), Demmy Ladipo (The Last Tree, Enterprice), Mandip Gill (Doctor Who, Suspicion, The Flood), Georgia Hirst (Vikings, Ravers), Georgia Small, Marisa Abela (Lena Dunham’s Industry, Cobra) and Sinéad Harnett (UK singer/influencer). Raschid creates a very natural and at times heart warming story that really uses the interactive concept to a new level where even though you know it has a narrative and they are actors it feels real like you are listening into someones online activities. You can see too that the interactive options have really been thought out and really add to the realism of the film and it just becomes more appealing.

Each of the actors really do their bit to make this film both fun and entertaining but depending on your answers there can also be some very uncomfortable moments. Taheen Modak as Vinny is both likeable and relatable as you help him through his dating adventure. Obviously the interactive side to the film mean you mould Vinny to how you want him but at the same time the reactions you get do make you think about the responses you give. Without giving any spoilers while watching I had one interaction with the character played by Sinead Hartnettwhere a response I had given created a situation i did not see coming something which made me like the film even more.

'Five Dates' is a film I couldnt see myself liking but now find myself oddly addicted to. It could be  the realistic situation it offers or even the pure escapism it brings. You will watch this film more than once guaranteed.  

CBeebies Christmas Show Encore! Hansel and Gretel returns to cinemas this December

The much-loved CBeebies Christmas Show is coming back to the big screen from the theatre stage for a family-friendly feast of Christmas fun, including interactive “A Christmas Trail” content exclusively created for cinemas alongside the Hansel & Gretel stage performance recorded at Edinburgh Festival theatre. A welcome treat in this year of limited theatre runs and live performances.

The story of 'Hansel and Gretel' is told in a way only the CBeebies can. Charming,energetic and full of colour. It is an experience you can only get with a panto and it reminds you why we love Christmas. Panto's are something most have experienced and something  that is a staple of the festive period. Using the magic of Panto the CBeebies team create a family experience that will entertain all ages in one way or another seamlessly blending beautiful story telling with a little silliness here and there but possibly the biggest part of the show are the excellent musical set pieces.

Some pulse pounding music that at times feels retro adds an extra depth to the experience and will defientyl leave you with songs you cant get out of your head. One of the cleverest things the film does too is mixing in some audience reaction shots as it feels both nostalgic, for a simpler time when we could watch these sorts of shows in person, but also quite touching as you see the families taking in every single second of the experience. Sometimes you dont quite appreciate shows and films like this as Kids are often the most critical of audiences and it does take something really special to keep them fully engaged.From some of the recognisable faces to the clever delivery of the story it stands up as the perfect piece of family fun.

With 2020 being a year we want to forget it is unfortunately easier to forget how much we miss real entertainment like theatre and cinema, this charming little film is like a blessing and a very welcome relief from a crazy world. It is a film that just makes you smile and reminds you about appreciating things we can take for granted. Support Cinemas and theatres and allow the CBeebies to take you on a very entertaining trip.

Horror anthology 'A Night Of Horror - Nightmare Radio' will be coming to digital download from 21st December

The film encapsulates 8 terrifying short films directed by talented creatives from across the globe. These include Sergio Morcilo (Drops), Joshua Long (Post Mortem Mary), Jason Bognacki (Into The Dark Woods), Adam O’Brien (A Little Off The Top), Matt Richards (The Disappearance of Willie Bingham), A.J. Briones (The Smiling Man), Pablo S. Pastor (Into The Mud) and Oliver Park (Vicious).

On a stormy night Rod leads a radio show dedicated to horror. Listeners call the radio telling their own paranormal stories. Suddenly, the announcer begins to receive strange calls from a child who desperately asks for help. At first Rod thinks that it is a bad joke until he discovers that this is not the case. Not only that, but these calls hide a dark secret in which the announcer himself will be involved...

This film really out did all of my expectations each story maintains a different tone and pace but throughout it is held together with a very simple but effective narrative. Using the back drop of the radio station call in show adds an extra dimension and a more grounded nature to the film. There have been numerous Horror Anthology films such as 'V/H/S' (2012) but unlike that 'Nightmare Radio' and its central narrative feels more eerie in its style and distrubing in its nature. 

Some of the stories are more disturbing than you might first expect and use a ''Blair Witch' like approach creating a mystique which gives the audience a different view point and at the same time creates that 'is it real' idea. Possibly the most disturbing story involves the most unlikely concept, a hair stylist gone mad, while it sounds like an outlandish and off the wall idea it is both disturbing and hard hitting. The various directors are really given opportunity to express themselves which benefits the film as a whole as it makes it more unpredictable but with the radio segments being like an anchor to each section. The film does often drift from pure horror to dark comedy and from more eerire ghost stories to gore fest stories.

'A Night of Horror-Nightmare Radio' feels like the start of something as if there is still more to be told which both for and against it. While the ending is clever you leave the film feeling like there is something else almost like an over lying spirit but this does open up a sequel possibility to explore further new horror stories. Alot of these stories would feel at home in the CreepyPasta genre alongside characters like Slenderman and Jeff The Killer.  

'Silent Night' on Digital Download from 14th December and on DVD from 28th December

Written and directed by Will Thorne, the independent British feature, set at Christmas, stars Bradley Taylor, Cary Crankson, Nathaniel Martello-White, Joel Fry and Frank Harper. 


For the most part films like this are generic and predictable and depends highly on execution and slickness of story and script. 'Silent Night' uses a mixture of elements from the typical british gangster /crime films and enhances them with a slick narrative and off the wall but grounded characters.

Writer/Director Will Thorne creates quite a sweeping visual story using the camera almost like a third person spying on the characters as the story unfolds, the more stylish approach to the use of the camera makes the film stand out visually. The stripped back approach makes it feel more grounded and in ways more believable. You can even see the hallmarks of traditional british gangster but smartly Thorne more embraces them rather than hide them.

The film is packed with gritty and fearless performances that are often tricky to pull off as they can come across overly macho and it can feel too cheesey. Bradley Taylor really leads the line with a suprisingly emotional and often intimidating performance. You could label the character bfg, not so big in size but more stature and presence.

'Silent Night' is a more entertaining than expected film. At times it feels more like a dark comedy than a thriller, the grounded narrative offers a suprising amount of realism and with relatable characters.

'The Ringmaster' will be in UK Cinemas from 2nd December & DVD & Digital Download from 30th November

'The Ringmaster' sees two young women (Anne Bergfeld & Karin Michelsen) working the night shift at a secluded gas station unwittingly become the stars of a terrifying show streamed live on the dark web. Held captive by a sadistic ringmaster and his cohorts, their survival instincts are stretched to the limit as they are forced to play a game of life and death as an unseen audience decide their fate.

The film is directed by Soren Juul Petersen and is based on “Finale” the best-selling Nordic noir novel by Steen Langstrup. It is a clever concept that takes in numerous influences and twists them into a claustrophobic horror thriller. The simplistic approach creates an intensity alot of horror films lack.

Petersen is fearless in his approach to telling the story, not afraid to take the film to more dark places which makes it unpredictable for audiences watching. At times the film almost feels like a fantasy, like a trip into a nightmare with its diluted colour pallete, Peterson uses this technique to draw the audience in and create a false sense of security which just adds to the tension in the narrative. Petersen also uses isolation as a tool using the setting to really lay out the tone for the film as a whole. Often with horror there is an over reliance on the central theme wether it be a character or a slow burning narrative that fires the audience to a most probably predictable ending, Petersen marries the pair together with ease but with 'The Ringmaster' you cannot predict where it will go. 

Karin Michelsen really sets the tone with a very emotional and physically giving performance. Throughout the film there are very grounded and believable performances that feed into the appeal of film which also creates a more disturbing anle to the story. Watch out for Damon Younger as The Ringmaster he is both distrubing  but at the same time oddly grounded, he will definetly find a cult following.

'The Ringmaster' is a nightmarish trip that will have you gripped. Like an open world version of Eli Roth's 'Hostel' it takes in the human fear of isolation and unpredictability and mixes it with an even more disturbing narrative. The film will become a cult favourite particualrly horror fans will love.

Teen romance starring Famke Janssen, Alexandra Shipp and Nicolas Hamilton available on all digital platforms now

'Endless' follows madly in love high school graduates Riley (Alexandra Shipp) and Chris (Nicholas Hamilton). When the pair are separated by a tragic car accident, Riley blames herself for her boyfriend's death while Chris is stranded in limbo. Miraculously, the two find a way to connect. 'Endless' also Stars X-Men legend Famke Janssen and DeRon Horton, who stars in the groundbreaking Dear White People and Netflix's Burning Sands.

'Endless' is one of those films that blends romance with  a fantasy like element which adds in an extra dimension. More often than not romance films like this walk fine lines between feeling real and feeling overly cheesey. While the films central narrative is realtivly generic and predictable it is the storys twist and in a way darker element that really brings the film to life. 

Director Scott Speer has created a dream like film both in story and visually. Stripped back no frills visuals almost like the films of the 70s allow for the story to unfold more organically. Music is used smart throughout the film being timed and paced for more impact within emotional scenes something which most films within this genre. It is the type of story that requires a focus and a strong central driving force because the story can feel slow at times and pacing can be tough  to get right, Speer handles this by relying on his characters relatability.

Nicolas Hamilton (IT) and Alexandra Shipp (X-Men: Dark Phoenix) really drive the emotional core of the film with very grounded almost theatrical performances. Both raw and strong the pair really lead the way and are fearless in the execution. Famke Janssen uses her experience to really anchor the story and while her part might not be a leading one she really holds the narrative together as its grounding force.

'Endless' is a film that addmittedly I was not sure I would take to purely due to its outward story. You read teenage and you read romance and straight away it rings generic and predictable but then you see it has a twist which draws your attention. It was a pleasent suprise that I truly enjoyed this film and its suprisingly intense story which is at times hypnotic. Hamilton is definetly the draw here and he is set for big things as his star grows.

Bloodbath Horror 'Game of Death',available on Digital Download now

Kill or be killed is the golden rule of the 'Game of Death', which sucks for seven decent-looking millennials who decide to play one sunny day. They quickly and gruesomely realise that if they don’t murder people, their heads will literally explode. Hence, they go on a killing spree, taking the lives of anyone they meet in their middle-of-nowhere town. The killer-instinct in each of them bubbles to the surface as the search for victims unravels into chaos. Will they turn on each other?

'Game of Death' is like Eli Roth (Hostel) had reimagined 'Jumanji', it is an off the wall roller coaster that is at the same time oddly compelling. Films like this are always the same, you can sit and pick apart little things here and there like character development, strength of narrative etc but the truth is while it might not be perfect it is fun and a hell of a ride. The film is unapologetically vicious and comes across almost like a graphic novel. 

Co-Directors  Sebastien Landry and Laurence Morais-Lagace  clearly have fun here and use 'Game of Death' almost like a love note to the horror genre. The pair make the most of the camera using it in increasingly inventive ways throughout the film something which gives certain scenes an extra dimension at times it is haunting at other times disturbing. Sometimes when you have co-directors you can often pick out clashes in visual style but there is a clear chemistry within this film that does add to that student film feel where it is made for the passion over made for money.

Low budget horror films rarely have what you could say are standout performances and very few have what you could call lead actors, they instead rely on chemistry of the ensemble. Much like Tobe Hooper's  'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' the film has a fresh faced cast that feel real and grounded rather than specifically written and they do have that student film feel where they are clearly enjoying what they do and it shines through.

'Game of Death' will definetly not be for everyone but Horror fans will buy into it. It is one of those films that will find a cult following but also makes a perfect weekend film for those just looking for fun.


Chilling Spanish Horror 'Ropes' available now on Digital Download

With her sister’s death still very recent, Elena, a young quadriplegic, has retired to a country house along with her father. There she has the help of Author, a Belgian Shepherd service dog. But the animal who is supposed to be her best friend has contracted a strange disease… and has turned into her worst enemy.

Spanish horror has gone from strength to strength and continues to have a prolonged impact on both the genre and cinema as a whole. 'Ropes' stands as both original but at the same time has an almost retro feel to it. Simplistic in its approach but effective in its execution. 

Co-writer/Director Jose Luis Montesinos uses a coiled spring type bulding intensity to create tension but smartly the narrative is both slow burning and unpredictable. The key to this film is the pacing as it feels slow at times but speeds up within the more disturbing scenes which heightens  the tension. Montesinos lays the story out more like a novel allowing the audience to track the narrative as it unfolds around the characters rather than forcing it on them. 

Paula Del Rio gives a standout performance as Elena and is the anchor that really holds the film together. Both mentally and physically she is pushed to her limits but her fearless performance really sets the tone for the whole film. 'Ropes' is a film that requires intense physical presence from all cast members which comes across from each character. 

'Ropes' is both grounded and oddly has an element of realism to it. Much like films like 'Hush' it feels disturbingly real which just adds an extra dimension. 

Heist Comedy 'Finding Steve McQueen' - Starring Travis Fimmel, William Fichtner, Rachael Taylor & Forest Whitaker available now on digital download

Based on the true story of the Youngstown mob, President Richard Nixon, the FBI, and the biggest bank heist in US history! In 1972, a gang of likeminded thieves plan a heist to steal $30 million in illegal campaign contributions from the President's secret fund.

The film stars Travis Fimmel (Raised by Wolves), Rachael Taylor (Jessica Jones), William Fichtner (Armageddon) and Academy Award winner, Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland) and is directed by Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil, Ghost Rider).

An insane high octane ride that is packed with character and sharp,slick dialogue. From the start the film sets out it stall and maintains the feeling of a 70s crime caper but its core strength is a smart narrative. Imagine Edgar Wright's 'Baby Driver' mixed with Steven Soderbergh's 'Ocean Eleven' and while 'Finding Steve McQueen' might not have the standout lead character it does have a very colourful and memorable ensemble.

Director Mark Steven Johnson is a smart writer and has a knack for developing relatable and grounded characters even within his comic book movies. He uses a very stylized approach even with the pacing of the narrativeit feels like it is defietly inspired by Steve McQueen flick 'The Getaway'. Alot of the action sequences are simple but effective in both approach and execution again much like the action scenes of the 70s crime capers they have a slow build then through a flurry of adrenaline they finish with a bang.

Travis Fimmel, Lily Rabe and Rachael Taylor give key performances and drive the narrative through and are the anchors to this ensemble. Backing them up are some very capable and acclaimed actors like William Fichtner and Forest Whitaker who use all of their experience to have an effective impact on the film as a whole. Ensembles always work or fail based on their chemistry which the 'Finding Steve McQueen'cast  has and it is clear to see.

'Finding Steve McQueen' is a hard to believe based on a true story that retro fans will love. If you want something that is pure entertainment this is it. It is that film that will will suprise you if you give it a chance.

'Every Time I Die' available now across all major streaming and Digital Platforms

After Sam (Drew Fonteiro "The Last Ship") is murdered, his consciousness travels through the body of his best friend, Jay (Marc Menchaca "Ozark"), to protect him from his killer.

'Everytime I Die' is a thought provoking concept that feels like a feature length episode of the 'Twilight Zone'. It sets out with a very intense story and uses the sci fi element to enhance both the intrigue and narrative.

Co-writer/Director Robi Michael lays out a mystery for the audience to figure out with a slow paced story that maintains an intensity through both effective performances and some intensly powerful scenes. Its cleverness is within its simplicity, a large scope for the story is told in a very personal way. It is a high conept thriller that is an indie film at heart. Michael creates some very personal and emotional acenes that are visually striking even within a very watered down colour pallet, placing the power with the actors and the story.

Sci-fi films in particular low budget sci fi can feel overly cheesey with performances being over the top, this film feels more low key and stripped back and the actors seem to excel within it. Strong and driven performances from Drew Fonteiro and Marc Menchaca carry the narrative with very grounded delivering of their characters. Each charater feels more believable and relatable thanks to the more actor focused simplistic approach to the film.

'Everytime I Die' is the sci-fi film you didnt know you needed. In this crazy world where escapism is needed if only for 90 minutes it is films like this that will help. Smart, entertaining and heartfelt it has alot of elements and some you dont see coming. If you are in the mood for something with a bit of everything this is a film to try.

The UK premiere took place at Grimmfest last year and soon audiences will be able to stream or download the film from the comfort of their own home.

Antrum - The Deadliest Film Ever Made - In UK Cinemas from 26th October

"Antrum, a feature length film shot in the late 1970's, is said to be cursed. In 1988, a movie theatre in Budapest that was screening the film burnt to the ground, killing the 56 people who were in attendance. This incident follows the inexplicable deaths of a number of film festival programmers that had received Antrum as a submission and died shortly after watching it. These events have created a belief that watching Antrum will kill you.

The film features a teenage girl and her young brother putting their dog to sleep for a violent act it committed. In an effort to save its soul, they enter a forest that contains “The Antrum”, the very spot that the devil landed when he was cast out of heaven. There they begin to dig towards hell, and the deeper they dig the more dangerous the forest becomes. It has been observed that at this point in the film more malevolent events start happening to the audience watching it.

The film is surrounded by mystery and controversy but at the centre a story which at times feels like a gut punch. Horror is the one genre which can use marketing the most effectivly the most used is the tagline based on a true story but often like Blair Witch and Paranormal Activity it can emcompass a real world dimension. 'Antrum' uses a hard hitting marketing plan including a documentary around the film heightening the narratives tension and impact, 'Blair Witch Project' used a similar technique to great effect in 1999. Directors Michael Laicini and David Amito create a very effective narrative and backstory to build this film and deliver it at a slow burning pace that builds and builds before delivering a sledgehammer blow of an ending.

'Antrum' has some very good performances from a minimal but effective cast although the documentary aspect does impact the films overall appeal from an acting perspective. The cast are quite hardhitting in themselves as they play out this vicious narrative but their fearlessness in approach benefits the film in its retro stylings.

The film is vicious and clever and in ways addictive. The smart backstory is the key to this even without the mystique surrounding it. The folklore it creates feels all too real and will almost certainly create a cult following for the film. 'Antrum' will not be for everyone but it is most certainly worth a look....if you dare. 

Spooky Family Sci-Fi 'Max Winslow And The House of Secrets', Coming to Cinemas on October 23rd


Four-time Emmy Award Winning director Sean Olson is a very smart and  is no stranger to the sci-fi genre. With Max Winslow, Olson creates a Harry Potter like character who is vulnerable but at the same time very grounded. He balances the film like a fantasy version of an 80s comedy with a very 'goonies' like adventurous narrative. The film is very stripped back visually with a toned down colour pallette but it oddly adds a dimension to how the story plays out. Smartly the film is paced a little slow which creates an intensity and makes you want to watch.

Some very colourful characters make for some fun performances. Sydne Mikelle leads the line with a very confident and effective performance. The film boasts quite the ensemble throughout with young up and coming actors taking their opportunity to shine but at the same time they feel like they are having athe time of their lives. Whenever you gret a group of young actors as an ensemble there is always that breakfast club feel to it.

'Max Winslow and the House of Secrets' is fun and very entertaining and feels like a rubiks cube, from the outset it looks plain and simple but the deeper you look the more you get drawn in. While you could argue some characters are under developed and you wish for a longer run time to dig deeper into this smart narrative there is still enough here to entertain and give you a fun ride.

'Alien Addiction' - Sci-Fi Comedy - Out on Digital Download from 12th October

Alien Addiction follows Riko (Jimi Jackson) who lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere (Waikato, New Zealand). Life was pretty normal until two aliens crash landed near Riko’s house. He welcomes the aliens and together they develop an intergalactic relationship of epic proportions. Alientologist Peter Mackintosh (Thomas Sainsbury) has tracked the aliens and Riko, and plans to capture them and reveal them to the world.

This is an off the wall comedy packed with grounded humour and very unique and original characters. The New Zealand based comedy has the feel of the typical slacker comedies of the 80s and 90s. New Zealand and its unique and original films have a humour and quirkiness everyone can connect to, films like 'Bad Taste' and 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' are small films the formed cult followings.

Writer/Director Shae Sterling creates a colourful story with characters unlike anything you have seen before. His approach is simple but effective in that his script is slick and sharp with often Tarantino esque dialogue. Sterling uses the beautiful New Zealand back drop to elevate the films visual appeal and it takes it from being a generic slacker comedy to a suprisingly beautiful film.

Cast chemsitry is key to films like this as they lack both budget and frills of larger more mainstream films but here it feels like a student film made by a group of friends. Performances throughout are colourful and fun and at the same time suprisingly grounded.

'Alien Addiction' is fun and entertaining and a must for fans of the films of Kevin Smith. New Zealand continues to churn out smart and interesting filmmakers and storytellers, Shae Sterling is yet another and defiently one to watch. This is a film to watch with friends and an ideal piece of entertainment 


Written and directed by British filmmaker and comedian Harry Michell (Chubby Funny, Guinea Pig), produced by Helen Simmons (Chubby Funny, F*CK) and co-written by Jamie Fraser (Living The Dream, Pillow Talk), it stars a slew of homegrown talent including Harry Melling (Harry Potter franchise, The Lost City of Z, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Tom Brooke (Game of Thrones, The Death of Stalin, Bodyguard), Anna Maxwell Martin (Philomena, Motherland, Code 404), Roger Allam (The Thick of It, The Lady in the Van, Endeavour), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator, Good Omens), Vinette Robinson (Sherlock, The A Word) and Flora Spencer Longhurst (Unforgiven, The Maltese Connection).

Orphaned brothers and Christian radicals, Tim and Vic, arrive in Ilkley with the relatively straightforward task of assassinating Professor John Huxley. However, after a classic case of mistaken identity, they find themselves having murdered the wrong man. Now stuck in the town during Ilkley's busiest weekend, they wait for the arrival of a foreboding mentor to give them instruction. The mission must still be completed - that's providing Vic’s rage, Tim’s doubts or the efforts of foul-mouthed Detective Inspector Brough don't get in the way first. 

From the films shocking but funny begining it sets out a very dark comedy with a sharp and slick narrative.You could say it is like a yorkshire set Coen Bros film, its full of off the wall characters that for the most part you dont know wheter to love or hate but at the same time feels oddly very grounded. It seemlessly  drifts between comedy and drama but at the centre of the story a very pure heart. 

Co-Writer/Director Harry Michell has created  a very original and savage but funny film that benefits from the very real Yorkshire setting along with the colourful characters it brings with it. Michell directs with style and confidence he uses the beautiful setting almost as a distraction from the darker elements to the story making them harder to predict.

  Led by two stellar performances from Harry Melling and Tom Brooke, playing the two radical Christian hitmen, 'Say Your Prayers' is filled with talent including Anna Maxwell Martin and acclaimed actor Derek Jacobi. Throughout the film there are simple but effective performances which really adds extra depth to a smart script.

'Say Your Prayers' is a film that will give you that uncomfrtable laugh where you are watching something you cant decide if it is right or wrong to laugh at. It is a film that really stands as a show for quality writing and storytelling and while you could sit and pick at little things that 'critics' like doing I truly enjoyed the entertainment value this film has. It is a fun and suprising ride that has some scenes you will talk about after the film has finished.

The multi award-winning 'SCHEMERS' will be hitting UK cinemas from today following a delayed release due to Covid-19.

The first full length feature film to be made in Dundee, based on the true story surrounding David McLean's stream of ambitious gigs in 1980's, these included Simple Minds, XTC, Ultravox, The Skids & Iron Maiden to name just a few! The film won the Audience Award at Edinburgh Film Festival and was recently awarded Best Director & Best Actor at the New York Winter Film Awards.


'Schemers' is a smart and effective story told with impact. A very grounded story that has a character driven narrative that has the same sort of feel 'The Commitments' had when it was first released, not a mainstream story but the story feels both real but at the same time somewhat fantastical. The sharp dialogue the script offers is almost Tarantino like in its execution even some of the characters could have been the brain child of QT.

Writer/Director Dave Mclean gives a very confident debut with 'Schemers' a smartly paced film that draws you in thanks to some very sharp visuals and a blend of dark comedy and drama. Mclean creates a very retro styled product as a whole using some classic songs to accompany and enhance the experience for the audience. 'Schemers' is a film that will suprise and is a showcase for a man who has shown he is more than just a filmmaker he is a very good storyteller.

Conor Berry leads a very strong cast with  a driven and in a way theatrical performance. Often stage performances feel more pure and easier to connect with where as screen performances can feel more distant but Berry's  standout turn feels impactful but vulnerable. Chemistry is key to any films success and 'Schemers' somehow feels like an enseble piece even with a central figure in the story. 

'Schemers' is a film that showcases the importance of a good story with relatable characters. Definetly a shining debut from an up and coming filmmaker and with a killer soundtrack that will become a cult hit. Indie film lovers will appreciate this film as the achievement that it is but also lovers of pure cinema will fall in love with this gem

'Waiting For The Barbarians' will be available on Digital Download from 7th September


An often brutal film that has a story packed with emotion. It has the feel of a vintage historical story like the ones you got in the 60s and 70s where the film succeeds or fails by the performances of its cast and the power of the story being told. 'Waiting For The Babarians' manages to avoid  being generic  and predictable by being grounded in its story but at the same time feeling often immersive thanks to some very powerful performances. Often with stories like this it can be wartered down but 'Waiting For The Barbarians' is fearless in its execution even through some distressing scenes it relion its cast to carry the narrative.

The film boasts an all star cast including three of the best actors working today in Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson. Rylance is the stand out in this with a powerful and very emotionally giving performance that draws you in but at the same time makes the audience think. Rylance is always an under stated actor who avoids the "movie star" label but is ever reliable. Possibly one of the biggest movie stars cinema has ever seen, Johnny Depp has always floated seamlessly between franchise  and low budget films but he always seems more comfortable in the lower scale ones.Depp feels like an anchor to the story here almost connecting the dots of the narrative  from a story level and to a chemistry level with his performance. Pattinson is a movie star who does not want that label and here he plays a relativly small part that he keeps under stated but at the same time you feel his prescence.

Director Ciro Guerra is a very visual based filmmaker who has an eye like an artist. His style is like a painter and it shines through in his films as he uses the land scapes and production design as a marker for his actors giving extra depth to the story. From the way it is filmed right down to the more stripped back score it does feel like a golden age historical film.

'Waiting For The Barbarians' is a film that wont appeal to all as historical stories can often feel a little too slow for most audiences and it does not fit in with mainstream films but it is a smart and beautifully shot piece of art. Mark Rylance is the films key as he shines like he always seems to do.

The Film Donald Trump Tried To Shut Down Gets Worldwide Release 18th August

Journeyman Pictures has clinched worldwide rights to 'You’ve Been Trumped Too' and plans to reach as many viewers as possible ahead of Donald Trump’s second bid for the White House in November.

Donald Trump is a man who mad it to one of the most powerful seats in the world as leader of the United States of America but behind the scenes his climb up the ladder has been anything but pretty. This documenatry shines a light on one particular event where Trump shows his true colours and his need for power no matter what the cost. 92 year old scottish widow  Molly Forbes found her self at odds with Trump as he built his Golf club in rural  Scotland neighbouring her home.   Construction on the club including a new road leading up to it left Forbes and her family struggling for water and more often with no water at all. It is at times disturbing listening to the statements from the Trump organsiation including the man himself about  Forbes and her family and the worst part being the promise they made to repair the water pipe  fixing the issue they created in the first place. 

Trump feels at times like a bond villain as he continually  speaks his mind no matter the concequences but it is with his complete lack of empathy for others. The film is fearless from the start not afraid to show things that feel almost unbelieveable. Director Anthony Baxter sets out to find answers from the man himself as he heads towards election. At times endearing often comedic but emotional throughout it is shockingly hypnotic. Possibly the most memorable line in the film is when Trump compares Forbes to his own mother. At one point Baxter was arrested and thrown in jail when he first discovered the situation with the water supply at Forbes home. The charges were thrown out and the police forced to issue an apology. During the documentary, Baxter is astounded to learn Molly and her son Michael who Mr Trump branded ‘a pig’, is still without a reliable water supply half a decade on which just drives him on as he looks for answers. The film stands as proof of the lack of knowledge and understanding the Trump organisation have of ordinary people and could even be a warning as Trump seeks re election. 

The film was shut down indefinitely following legal threats from the Trump Organization however, when the film was completed, they threatened any cinema that showed it. The US distributor then pulled out - denying the film a proper theatrical release or broadcast. But now Journeyman Pictures is releasing the film worldwide. It is a landmark film that stands and as Trump looks to be re elected it reflects the true nature of a man that is driven by power and is not afraid to use it no matter what the concequences.

“'You’ve Been Trumped Too' is the film Donald Trump doesn’t want you to see,” said director Anthony Baxter. “I believe the film’s release by Journeymen Pictures is an important landmark for freedom of speech, independent filmmaking, and, most importantly, the accountability of the rich and powerful.” 

'You’ve Been Trumped Too' will be released on 18th August on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Journeyman VOD and Vimeo.

Coming of Age Flick starring Natalia Dyer 'Yes, God, Yes' arrives on UK digital download platforms August 17

This coming of age title, starring Stranger Things sensation Natalia Dyer and Alisha Boe (13 Reasons Why), tackles important questions about religion, sexuality and the struggles of going through high school in Midwest America in the early 00s.Sixteen-year-old Alice (Natalia Dyer) has always been a good Catholic but when an innocent AOL chat turns racy, she discovers masturbation and is overwhelmed with guilt. Seeking redemption, she attends a mysterious religious retreat to try and suppress her urges but it isn't easy, especially after a cute upperclassman (Wolfgang Novogratz) starts flirting with her.

Writer/Director Karen Maine's charming little story is adapted from her own short film of the same name. 'Yes, God, Yes' is a suprisingly smart take on a racy story tht avoids the generic and stereotypical narratives and ideas that other films of the same types have offered before. Instead it has both heart and character and a story that is funny and at times an almost nostalgic feel thanks to its early 00's setting. Maine's witty script almost smartly plays out as a discovery for the characters as even the early years of the internest and technology just add to its colorful charm, fans of the early years of the snake game on mobile phones will appreciate it too. It is nice that the film is character driven and feels at times like it could easily be a play on stage with dialogue that feels natural and a story that is grounded.

The film is built on a standout turn from the excellent Natalia Dyer, she shows an energy and a vulnerability in a very tricky role that done wrong could have felt cheesey and overly comic. There is an innocence to the cast but the charm shines through from the start and while the film is built around Dyer it does have the feel of an ensemble film too which is just credit to the performances and the Director.

'Yes, God, Yes' is a more grounded version of films like 'American Pie' and with  a humor that will make you laugh but at times shock you too. Casting Dyer was a master stroke. She is fearless in her performance but maintains an overall innocence througout. There could be an argument made that some characters feel a little under developed but within the runtime there is enough to keep you wanting more.


To celebrate 85 years of Elvis Presley and 50 years since the film’s original 1970 release, the King returns to cinemas – remastered - with 'Elvis: That’s The Way' It Is, an unmissable event for fans around the world.

Trafalgar Releasing are delighted to confirm that the film will be in selected cinemas around the world* on the re-scheduled release date of 13 August 2020 after being delayed due to the covid crisis.


With  performances including Love Me Tender, Blue Suede Shoes, Heartbreak Hotel and Suspicious Minds the concert is packed with legendary songs showing a man filled with passion for performing. The film mixes documentary footage of Elvis prepping with his team with the concert itself. 

The documentary footage is quite eye opening and shows a determination of a man to entertain his fans and put on a show they will never forget. It is often endearing showing the very down to earth human side to the rock'n' roll megastar. Elvis is a man who like his music or not has earnt his place among legendary figures not just in music but in popular culture itself and his drive to entertain is admirable. But at the same time you do get a sense of vulnerablity and a man that while driven to entertain may at the same time struggle with the weight of his megastar status.

One thing you can be guaranteed from an Elvis show is energy and it is totally infectious. from iconic songs to the maybe lesser known ones it is hard not to get drawn in and lose yourself watching a man just loving what he is doing. Watching the audience feels like an extra dimension as they are fixed in a trance like state following Elvis and the rythmic commands he gives through his music.

Elvis is an iconand even now has a massive following with both his music and character still inspiring many. His legacy remains strong and this acclaimed film is just a reminder of who he was and just how much of an impact he had with his talent and his music. 

'Elvis: That’s The Way It Is' will be released in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand.

Links & Details Global theatrical release date: 13 August


Spy Intervention will be available for Digital Download from 27th July


An off the wall odd ball comedy packed with colorful characters and some suprisingly striking action set pieces. Think 'The Naked Gun' mixed with some of the slick visuals of 'Austin Powers' and add in a little Inspector Clouseau and you get 'Spy Intervention'. It may not be to everyones taste but if you take it for what it is you will have fun with it.

Director Drew Mylrea creates a stripped back comedy that would have easily fit in with the comedies of the late 80s early 90s. Smartly it walks that fine line between comedy and spoof but does mix this with some very stylish visuals. Mylrea  doesnt over do the comedy element of the film which can sometimes  be the biggest issue with smaller budget films. The story has a 'Mr and Mrs Smith' element to it which Mylrea uses as its grounded basis and adds in larger comedic strands to it. 

Drew Van Acker leads the line with a charming performance and he shows some good comedic instincts too. He has the A list looks but often with films like this you have to push ego aside and just have fun with it which Van Acker clearly does. Alongside Van Acker is Poppy Delevingne who is actually a very under appreciated actress with an impressive cv which is ever growing. She works as a good counter to Van Acker and matches him on every level with the pair sharing some really good on screen chemistry. 

'Spy Intervention' has faults no doubt but it is fun and entertaining. it is much like most other comedies loved by some and hated by others but  it is relativly straight forward in that it is what it is a comedy that you just have to sit back and follow on this crazy ride.

'Life With Music' will be available for digital download from 27th July


A beautiful film brimming with emotion and charm. Director Claude Lalonde is a very acomplished and intelligent storyteller and with 'Life With Music' he creates a film that at times feels almost fantasy and dream like. The film has a very Paul Thomas Anderson feel to it in that it feels like a character study of a person struggling with life and the real life issues it can bring both emotionally and physically. The films key is the beautiful music sprinkled through out which Lalonde  smartly allows to dictate the pace of the narrative. The emotion of each character is enhanced with a melodic tone as at times when emotions are low the tone is more like a sinister figure lurking in the background where as when the emotion is more up beat the music is more classical and beautiful. 

Patrick Stewart is a very under appreciated actor, when you take away his best known roles Picard and Charles Xavier you still have one of the most respected theater actors out there. In this he gives one of his best screen performances in years. Stewart is pushed and challenged with a very vulnerable character who is almost haunted by his talent. Alongside Stewart is Katie Holmes in a role that almost feels like a guardian angel. She appears at times when Stewarts character is on the edge of losing himself she is the emotional connection between them and the audience. Along with them comes Giancarlo Esposito who is always a great character actor and while his screen time is limited he still carries an impact both on the story and in performance.

'Life With Music' was a very big suprise. Much like 'The Notebook'it isnt the most entertaining film but it is a story that will grab you if you give it a chance. It is there to to take you on an emotional trip with beautiful visuals and stunning music. Stewart is as watchable as ever and really carries this film from start to finish.

Critically Acclaimed Mafia Thriller 'Piranhas' available now on digital download


A deep and gritty thriller that is at times so grounded it feels almost too real world. Based on the book by Roberto Saviano (GOMORRAH) it is a story that starts slow and builds to an unpredictable end. The young cast are tasked with a very tough job portraying the tough but vulnerable characters within this complex story. Every performance within this talented ensemble feels scarily authentic and most often theatrical in its rawness. 

Writer/Director Cladio Giovannesi paces the film starting slow increasing the intensity a little at a time whhich in turn builds the audiences anticipation and intrigue. His smartly written script is fearless and does not shy away from the hardhitting elements of the story especially as it can be more real than some may think. Much like filmmaker Larry Clark and his film 'Bully' which is made up of a younger cast, Giovannesi shows confidence in his young stars allowing them to express themselves and showcase their range through their performances.The film is visually striking in a stripped back way, no vfx or coloured filters, this benefits the film as it throws the focus on performances.

This acclaimed film carries the same impact as the award winning 'City Of God' (2002) just shifting the focus to the dark side of the streets of Naples. There is in part a wish that the film had a longer run time to have a deeper look into the central characters. 'Piranhas' has an impact you dont expect with each character feeling real but at the same time emotionally open. The biggest positive is the openess of the film and the room for audiences to make their own interpretations of the story as a whole.  

'Disappearance At Clifton Hill' will be available on Digital Download from July 20 and on DVD from August 3


A haunting and atmospheric tale that carries a mystique that throughout the story slowly unfolds at a controlled pace to keep the audience guessing. Directed by Albert Shin, who co-wrote the feature with James Schultz, the film premiered at TIFF last year. Tuppence Middleton (“The Current War, Fisherman's Friends”) stars in the lead role, supported by Hannah Gross (Netflix series “Mindhunter”) and Canadian horror legend David Cronenberg.  

Co-writer/Director Albert Shin creates a noir-ish styled thriller with dream like visuals that change as the story develops.From the hard hitting begining Shin sets a tone for the film that while it is slow burning is gripping and with an intensity that bulds as the mystery grows. The smartly written script plays out like a slow deterioration of a damaged mind as she slowly looks for a personal peace and a calmness as she fights off her inner demons. Music is used so effectivly through out the film impacting the storyline with an extra dimension of emotion. The simplistic score has a feel of a 70s set thriller which really plays into the setting of the story. 

Tuppence Middleton gives an outstanding performance. She is both powerful and vulnerable in a role that is both mentally and physically giving although you do at times feel like you need to know a little more about her character. But in a film that has a good balance of mystery and intrigue along with a gripping storyline performances can sometimes get lost but the cast are believeable and grounded in how they come across much like stage actors playing to the audience. Having horror legend David Cronenberg attached to any film gives it a credibility alot of films would kill for but smartly he is used sparingly and comes across as a more guardian like character being the voice of reason in a story where truth feels more incredible than fantasy. Oddly too even Niagra falls feels like a character like a boogey man sort of figure just imposing in the back ground.

'Disappearance At Clifton Hill' is a smartly written story that treads a fine line between horror and thriller as it is at times haunting but its also gripping. Like Martin Scorsese thriller 'Shutter Island' the film creates questions but does not give anything away until the shocking end.  

'It All Begins With A Song' an eye opening documentary about the writers behind the some of the most iconic songs of all time

You may not know there names but you will definetly know their work and the place responsible for some of musics greatest creations. Nashville is home to some of the best songwriters in the industry but to the general public they are unknown. Big names including Aerosmith and Pink have had songs you will know and love but you wont know the people who actually created the song. 

Some of these unsung heroes enjoy the mystique and anonymity that comes with their behind the scenes work while others try to carve out something of a piece of the spotlight as and where they can. There is a history to Nashville as a song writing hub,. which even lead to the creation of the TV show by the same name,  but oddly it may be due to an unusal inception. Within the early days of radio Nashville was home to one of the most powerful Radio antennae in the States broadcasting the now famous Orpy Radio show.

Central to the documentary is the personal battle to be noticed as the writers hunt for that gem that will give them the break they need and want. But with that ambition comes battles both personal and professional but full of admirable perserverance their artistic integrity have become a voice of their respected generations. The tone for the Documentary is set from the start by song writer and long time Nasville collaborator Brett James when he states "I've had about 500 songs recorded, I've had 42 top 20 singles and 25 number 1's and nobody knows who the fuck I am".

The documentary is suprisingly engaging and sprinkled throughout are some beautifully crated little musical pieces. It is an incredible insight and homage to artists who do not get the credit or recognition they deserve for the happiness and entertainment they give to millions all over the world.

'The Ground Beneath My Feet', Marie Kreutzer's LGBT+ psychological thriller, available now on digital download

The film tells the story of Lola who manages her personal life with the same ruthless efficiency as her job. But when a tragic event threatens to destroy everything that she has worked for, Lola's dark secrets begin to unravel.

From the outset of the story there is a complexity and with it a very open ended narrative that is unpredictable and almost dream like. Both smart and psychological the film acts as an insight into a mind struggling with the world and the mental and physical demands it brings. Smartly written characters are key to the film as it is at times slow but evocative with some very powerful female characters right in the centre of this story. 

Valerie Pachner is the heart and drive behind this film with an intense but emotionally vulnerable performance. At times her performance feels somewhat improvised in that it feels reactive and almost instinctive which is just praise for her performance as a whole. Throughout the film there are a number of strong performances that are both grounded and relatable but the films key component is the almost theatrical feel you get from the cast, the way they carry themselves just gives an emotional connection to the audience.

Writer/Director  Marie Kreutzer has a feel of Anthony Minghella to her in that she is more like novellist using pictures rather than a filmmaker shooting from a script. She writes real and grounded characters and avoids over thinking characteristics as it often detracts from the realism you want.  

'The Ground Beneath My Feet' could easily be seen as a character study rather than just a film but tone, which at times can be quite dark makes for gripping viewing. Visually it does have a feel of a graphic novel, from its stripped back color pallette to its more down played framing of each shot. It is a film that should be seen by anyone wanting to learn about story development or even building characters.


Following its recent premiere British sci-fi horror 'The Ascent' is now available on digital platforms

'The Ascent' follows a group of mercenaries, who are sent to Eastern Europe in the middle of a civil war to retrieve intel. Shortly after the mission, the unit find themselves trapped on a never-ending stairwell; forced to climb or die. To survive, they must revisit their past sins if they ever want to get off. It blurs the lines of action and horror, creating a visually unique cinematic experience. Practical effects, bone crunching fight sequences and existential dread are combined with time travel and big questions about the repercussions of violence and consequence. This was Tom Paton’s third film to premiere at the prestigious FrightFest film festival in London in August 2019.

From the start 'The Ascent' is a very complex and unique offering that oddly feels grounded. As the film starts the narrative feels predictable and in wyas generic but in truth that is key to the films over all appeal as it sends the audience down a path where they can make their own mind as to where the story is going before the stories twists begin to unfold. Shayne Ward gives a well measured performance showing some leading man qualities with intensity as well as some emotion. Through out the story there are strong characters giving stripped back but effective performances particularly with some physically intimidating scenes and set pieces. 'The Ascent' is a puzzle and will make audiences think which not enough films do now whether mainstream or indie. 

Writer/Director Tom Paton is if anything ambitious. His vision is simple but impactful as he makes the most of some incredible sets and using them to their full extent. His style and approach is smart and stripped back and he uses a very drained colour pallet and mixes it with very low light scenes which gives it an almost nightmarish feel which feeds the story well. Paton's script is stylish and atmospheric and at times blurs the sci-fi/horror lines in ways alot of films try but dont always suceed but 'The Ascent' maintains a puzzle like sub plot that gives it an extra depth. 

There are areas the film could improve like charatcer development but for the most part this is due to the run time. The film does make the most of what it has though and is still entertaining and mysterious and will leave you with questions but that is what the best stories do. Like a rubiks cube all the pieces are there and the story slowly moves around aligning each one but when you think you have got it there are still more twists.

'Tombstone Rashomon' available now on digital and DVD

Cult Director Alex Cox (Repo Man, Sid and Nancy) presents his latest offering 'Tombstone Rashomon'. The story of the gunfight at the O.K corral but told through the style of the Japanese classic 'Rashomon' where the historical narrative is told from  various perspectives including Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Kate, Ike Clanton, Colonel Hafford and Johnny Behan.

The film from the start plays out like a docuseries laying out the detail and events in an informative and more often theatrical way.  Approaching the film using the 'Rashomon' style both benefits and hinders the film at the same time, it sets the film apart from the numerous other films there have been about this particular event but the almost documentary like approach can detract from the performances given by the actors as they tend to feel sometimes over theatrical. While the films overall style and execution may not appeal to all it is still at times suprisingly informative.

Cox is a director known for his more off the wall style approach to telling stories and at times 'Tombstone Rashomon' feels almost experimental in its style. As a story teller Cox has always been best at developing characters and allowing them to evolve organically but here his biggest strengths fall a little short and he instead channels his energy into creating  more striking visuals.

'Tombstone Rashomon' is an intersting and ambitious film that will not appeal to everyone. But to its credit it is different from other westerns and the more keen western fans will appreciate the in camera more retro style approach to filming. 

'Blood Hunters:Rise of the Hybrids' is available now on digital platforms

'Blood Hunters: Rise Of the Hybrids' is a tale revenge, demons and the supernatural along with a dark criminal underworld. The film is philippine martial arts film that has the visual flair of a graphic novel blending animation with live action in ways films like 'Sin City' did. A very ambitious and innovative film, it originated from a 2016 short by the same team and expanded its scope to this smart feature.

Writer/Director Vincent Soberano really plays to his clear strengths with some very well shot action sequences some of which feel almost comic book like. The film is smartly paced and doesnt over play or over rely on the action to carry the story as most films like this do as it offers up characters you can buy into. Soberano's slick and stylish script is simple but effective but the films run time is unfortunatly short so ther are areas that feel a little under developed which leaves the audience hoping for an extended cut.

The cast is filled with some more than capable martial arts experts but key is how the characters are put across to the audience as fight scenes aside there is a emotional side to these often vulnerable performances. Sarah Chang stands out with a stellar performance both physically and emotionally. 

While the film is different and has some very appealing elements from the effective anaimated sequences to the off the wall action and fight scenes you cant help but feel like you want more. The shorter run time does create a more intense feel but at the same time hinders the overall outcome as you know the film has alot more to offer 

'Agathe-Christine: Next Door Spy' available on digital platforms from June 16th

'Agathe Christine: Next Door Spy' is a very unique offering and walks a very fine line between arthouse and mainstream entertainment. While the style of animation is a little rough around the edges it oddly adds to the films charm allowing the narrative and story to be the drive rather than flashy characters or a more high tech animation.

Central to the story is Agathe Christine, a young girl who loves to solve mysteries and is always on the lookout for ways to use her sleuth skills. The biggest attraction to the film is how grounded and real the central character feels with her portrayed as an almost outsider finding her own way in the world while also realizing she has alot to offer personally. In more ways than one it does have the feeling of a young child growing up as she  looks to feed her curiosity of the ever changing world around her. She is a clverly written character as she does have flaws but with it the confidence to be herself,a very good and strong example to the children watching.

Filling out the story is an array of colourful characters that in some ways feel like elements of Agathe's inner thoughts. You have on one hand certain elements where they feel like her inner fears challenging her all the time feeding her insecurities but at the same time characters such as the talking lizard where you question both motive and even existence, whether it is real or even just an imaginary friend. 

'Agathe-Christine: Next Door Spy' is a very sweet and touching story with a very relatable central premise and to a degree a very real feeling narrative. While it is far from the offerings of disney/Pixar etc it does have something they rarely do, a very original feeling story.  

Gripping documentary 'Screened Out' arrives on digital download June 1st 2020

Filmmaker Jon Hyatt and his family set out on a journey through the life changing effects of screen addiction, how the tech industry hooked global consumers, and its greater impact on our lives. From smartphones, portable tablets and social media, the tech industry has designed fun immersive technologies that have changed the way we communicate and interact with each other but are these devices good for us? Are we too dependent? What keeps us hooked and how is it impacting our children and the world as a whole?

In a recent interview with CNN, Hyatt said, "This is a time when we're all celebrating bad behaviours." He continued, "What we found out after talking to the experts here (US) and in South Korea is that these social media and gaming companies have made us addicted by design. The more we use them the more addicted we get. At a time like this when we're all stuck in our homes, we're all sitting ducks for tech companies."

'Screened Out' is from the very begining gripping but at the same time incredibly disturbing. It shines a light on an issue which is slowly becoming more prominent within todays world. The documentray is unflinching it is approach as tackles head on the various effects "screen addiction" can have on a person. With testimony from experts from all areas of the tech world to psychologists who have investigated the short and long term effects  even small amounts of screen time can have. One thing that really stands out is the actual process of developing algorithms behind apps which use hidden techniques to keep people tranced  and online.These simple little psychological  tools act like a delivery system of a drug to an addict.

Director Jon Hyatts unbiased and investigative approach to this film make for a more real and grounded viewing. The documentary is laid out and paced smartly and also isnt overly long which some can be and it just allows you enough time to take in what you are watching whilalso giving you opprtunity to decide which side of this debate you might fall on. One thing is for sure 'Screened Out' will make you think and make you question technology and if it really is as positive as we are lead to believe.

'Edge of Extinction' will be released on Digital Download from May 18 and on DVD later in the year

From writer /director Andrew Gilbert comes 'Edge Of Extinction', a post apocalyptic thriller set in the near future. 15 years after a global apocalypse, mankind is on the verge of extinction. Civilisation no longer exists, food is scarce and most eke out a living by stealing and killing. One man clings onto life in his bunker, where staying away from others has been key to his survival. But this self-imposed isolation comes to an abrupt end when he crosses paths with another group of survivors and faces an enemy far more brutal and savage than any of them could have imagined.

With elements of Neil Marshall's 'Doomsday' and John Hillcoat's 'The Road' this gritty and grounded story maintains a disturbing feel of realism within this stark almost alien like landscape. The Films stripped back and thriller like approach gives it an added dimension of a documentary like story both visually and within its narrative. 

Some very mentally giving performances give the film an edge but also leaves room for a very emotional under score. The film can at times be uncomfortable in its approach as its simple but effective no frills feel adds to the realism where the actors can really become free to express. Luke Hobson really sets a tone from the start with a very emotional performance  that at the same time has a very dark side just simmering underneath. Both Georgie Smibert and Chris Kaye's arrival in the story signal a turn as things become darker and more gritty. Smibert is really pushed both mentally and phsyically in her performance and really rises to the challenge. Kaye gives a strong performance as from the minute you meet him you question his motives and playing the good bad guy is something that is not easy for an actor to pull off.

Director Gilbert smartly avoids over playing the film with glitzy visuals and an under developed story and narrative which alot of indie films can fall with. From the opening scenes the tone is set, wide reaching landscapes but also more minimal approach of music and even dialogue this allows the story to feel more grounded and for the narrative to be more organic.

'Edge of Extinction' is a clever and at times mysterious film that has plot twists and turns you wont see coming. 

'Edge of Extinction' is available on digital download from May 18th and on DVD later this year

Charming romantic comedy, 'CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?', starring Alexandra Daddario comes to Digital Download 4th May

'Can You Keep A Secret?' follows New York City marketing manager Emma (Alexandra Daddario) who on a return flight from a botched client meeting, reveals all of her deepest secrets to a handsome stranger when her plane hits turbulence and she believes she is going to die. Emma thinks she will never see the guy again. But when she comes to work Monday morning, Emma's office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company's elusive CEO and founder... and the stranger from the plane. 

Based on Sophie Kinsella's best selling novel of the same name, the film boasts an incredible leading duo of Alexandra Daddario (Baywatch, Percy Jackson Series) & Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf, Arrow).

For the most part romantic comedies are predictable and lack character but every so often one arrives which stands out. 'Can You Keep A Secret?' is built on the chemistry and likeability of the two leads Alexandra Daddario and Tyler Hoechlin. Daddario from the start grabs you attention with her colourful and comedic performance which is unlike roles we have seen her in before. She shows great comic instincts  and in more ways than one looks like she is having the time of her life. Hoechlin is perfectly cast as the handsome stranger and shows real vulnerability at times with some emotional scenes. The film really benefits from the two leads and their performances with the supporting cast just adding extra comedic charm to the story.

Director Elise Duran has pulled together a very talented cast and smartly allows the natural chemistry to dictate the narrative and the pace it plays out. Duran has an eye for colour and the film maintains a bright and vibrant pallet throughout. Possibly the smartest thing is keeping a feel of a student film with minimal but effective locations even down to the style it is shot.

Suprisingly stylish the film is an enjoyable ride that even has emotions you wont expect. Oddly captivating and with a story that alot could definetly  relate to in our own life. It is one of those films you will look at and think you can predict but given chance it will suprise you and really be the sort of film that will make you feel good.

  'Can You Keep A Secret?' will be available on Digital Download from 4th May 

Available now on digital download the gripping documentary 'Wow Signal'

On a late summer evening in 1977, Ohio radio astronomers discovered a strong, interstellar signal that is believed by many to be the best evidence of communication from an extraterrestrial civilization. Famously known as the 'Wow. Signal', its origins remain a mystery, and continue to intrigue. In today's ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence, there are those who think the Wow. Signal is the real thing, while others feel that actual evidence of intelligent life beyond our own is not within our grasp.

'Wow Signal' feels almost theatrical with its Hollywood like narrative and even the characters within it, but it is real and an event which is being debated to this day. It raises alot of questions but at the same time it never really answers them and instead places the debate in hands of the audeince showing both sides of the argument throughout the film.

Director Bob Dawson could have handled this using a larger scope but instead strips it back and allows the documentary to flow organically creating a story like narrative using the information and informative inputs. Over the last few years documentaries have began to really find a home within the cinematic landscape and are rapidly becoming more appreciated as an art form. 'Wow Signal' fits right in with the best of them. While the subject matter m might not be of interest to everyone the way Dawson handles the filmcarefully creating an intensity that will draw you  in.

Fans of the X files will appreciate 'Wow Signal' as it plays out like a real life episode but for me I suggest people check out this film as it is an event that in more ways than one shined light on the age old debate of are we alone in the universe.

'Case 347' a haunting and nightmarish tale of UFO's and Alien abduction available now on digital platforms

CASE 347 follows psychologist and UFO skeptic, Dr. Mia Jansen (Maya Stojan), and a team of documentary filmmakers who believe that alien abduction claims are forms of "mass hysteria". This is their footage

'The Blair Witch Project ' still stands as the one to beat with the found footage horror genre. 'Case 347' follows in a long line of found footage films particularly with the formula of investigating documentary crews, but does carry a more intense and unpredictable tone. From the start the story feels unpredictable and throughout carries a very eerie atmosphere mainly thanks to its stripped back scares avoiding the obvious and genereic horror cliches.

Writer/Director Chris Wax has clearly researched other films within the genre with set pieces that walk a fine line between working and failing. Films like this have no middle ground they either work or the dont much like 'Paranormal Activity' where the original was by far the most effective but the series became weaker as they went on. Wax's script is well paced and does play out like a mystery story offering the audience insight rather than just spoon feeding them the plot. He also creates a suprisingly informed narrative that does feel like a docu drama much to the benefit of the finished piece. The films most effective tool is atmosphere and the unnerving feel Wax creates with his approach.

'Case 347' is an effective film and at times very suprising. Over the last decade or so mainstream horror has become unorigninal and predictableand while 'Case 347' might not be the horror for everyone it is a gripping story.  Check out the film that plays to the strengths of the found footage genre but at the same time reinvents ways of utilising it too.

'THE HOST' is available through all on demand platforms from 17th April

From the start this film is not what you expect but this is a good thing. For the most part thrillers can be predictable especially within smaller indie films.

'THE HOST' is filmed in London and Amsterdam. A suspense driven feature film, with a core element based on when we come to crossroads in life. THE HOST presents the consequences should we choose the wrong road, sacrifices which must be made, justifications made, but it remains the wrong path. The audience will feel the intensity of the spiral effect after a wrong choice, leading to a road one can no longer turn back. The genre of this feature is a thriller, crime, mystery - a kind of modern day Hitchcock.


With a smart and suprisingly slick script, at its core 'The Host' feels like a gritty thriller but with a darker edge. From the start the story is a little slow but oddly keeps feeding the audeince little indicators that there is more without giving away what is coming.Parallels could be drawn with the styling and pace of Ridley Scott's thriller 'The Counselor' where the story is slow paced but smartly laid out to keep audiences guessing. Its biggest strength is in its twist where the story becomes something the audiences wont see coming. Oddly the european setting just adds to the darker nature of the narrative with the beautiful surroundings adding extra depth. One real high point for me is the visually appealing and stylish title sequence.

The story is grounded with some strong central performances particularly from  Mike Beckingham , Dougie Poynter and Maryam Hassouni. The narrative rests on their shoulders as it unfolds but smartly the film has no real "lead" actor and instead maintains the feel of an ensemble piece. Hassouni is beautifully terrifying in her role, she is definetly the most pleasent suprise in this gripping story. 

Director Andy Newbery is one to watch. 'The Host' could have easily felt both generic and slow but Newbery keeps an intensity through out the story, even with his choice and vision for cinematography and style as it holds a different feel for each act of the film from the lighter but griity begining to the dark and chilling final act. 

'The  Host' is one of the most suprising films I have seen in a while. A smart and slick but dark toned story that carries an unseen twist that will both shock and engage you further into the immersive story. The film is not without faults though there is a feeling that some of the characters feel a little under developed, but time and budget restraints do hinder the process in alot of ways but I would have been really interested in seeing an extended directors cut.

Check out 'The Host' when it becomes available 17th April, allow yourself to be drawn in and you will be suprised and entertained as the mystery unfolds.


'Softness of bodies' available now on Amazon Prime

'Softness of Bodies' tells the story of an  American poet living in Berlin who hopes to win a prestigious grant while dealing with her former relationships, a rival poet, and her own penchant for stealing things. 

A beautifully shot film that has a slow burning narrative that is grounded by some very effective and powerful performances led by the exceptional Dasha Nekrasova. While the film is really an aquired taste due to its almost arthouse cinema feel it does stand as a good example of how performance can really impact a films appeal. With a stylish and slick script it has a very theatrical feel to it which works well along with its stripped back tone. With a smartly paced narrative that could easily have been staged as a play with its suprisingly relatable characters and its emotionally charged core.

Dasha Nekrasova's performance really drives the film and her measured approach compliments the films more simplistic approach. The film oozes student film passion but with its arthouse approach it requires a more impactful cast. Nekrasova's lead performance really sets the standard and the tone for the rest of the cast and the chemistry throughout is clear especially within the more emotional scenes.

Writer/Director Jordan Blady handles the film well allowing it to play out organically rather than forcing it and trying to dress it up in flashy visuals. The films atmosphere and emotional level is really dictated by a very toned down score which is also accompanied by some very beautiful cinematography.

'Softness of Bodies' is a very effective film  with a smart but simple story and while it might not be for everyone it is a suprisingly engrossing film given the chance. Arthouse films dont always find their audiences as they can become lost to the more mainstream system. But this is one of those films that should be seen. 

Heartfelt drama The Rest Of Us starring Heather Graham available now on UK Digital Download release

'The Rest Of Us' stars Heather Graham (Austin Powers), Sophie Nélisse (The Book Thief), Jodi Balfour (The Crown) and Abigail Pniowsky in the lead roles as an unorthodox family who have been flung together, despite the clear and obvious tensions in the house. Poised, divorced woman, Cami (Heather Graham), risks her already tenuous relationship with her headstrong teenage daughter, Aster, when she invites her ex-husband's second wife, Rachel (Jodi Balfour), and young daughter, Talulah, to move in with them following his unexpected death. With an unusually full home, perched on a hill overlooking their town, these four women must contend with their own grief, truths, flaws and secrets while ultimately deciding if the past will dictate their future. This dramatic comedy is the story of authentic, complex women and the messy conflicts between them.

Heather Graham is an actress who has had a frustrating career from the highs of Paul Thomas Anderson's acclaimed 'Boogie Nights' to the lows of the critically panned 'Killing Me Softly' and including box office hits 'The Hangover'. But Graham has proved that she can handle flipping between genres with relative ease but with good material she is a more than capable actress. 'The Rest of Us' offers Graham a chance to express and show her ability and she gives a raw but vulnerable performance, she is the best she has been in a while. The rest of the cast is filled out with some very effective performances that at times feel theatrical in the way they play to the audience. Sophie Nélisse in particular gives a smart and measured performance feeling both real and relatable.

Director Aisling Chin-Yee is a smart storyteller who allows performances to carry the narrative organically meaning the story is more grounded and relatable. Her simplistic approach to story telling is very much like the style of acclaimed director Anthony Minghella where performances are placed above visual appeal and flair. 'The Rest of Us' has the essence of a student film in that it values the basic essentials to story telling and the overall most important part which is characters people can both relate to and also a story they can believe in.

While 'The Rest of Us' might not be for everyone, it is quite slow paced at times, it is a nicely told story that is a rollercoaster of emotion. Give it a chance if only for the performances and you will be pleasently suprised.

The Rest of Us will be available on Digital Download from 23rd March

'The Bygone' available now on demand and digital download

'The Bygone' is a modern-day western about clashing cultures and a disappearing way of life. The film stars Graham Phillips (The Good Wife, Riverdale), Shawn Hatosy (Animal Kingdom) & Jacqueline Toboni (The L Word: Generation Q). When a young Lakota woman goes missing in the oil fields of North Dakota, a cowboy's pursuit leads him into a dark unforgiving world of greed, violence and trafficking. In his attempt to save the damsel in distress, the rancher uncovers a harrowing past and hints at a dire future.

A well cast gritty thriller thats carries an underlying tone of the early Clint Eastwood westerns just brought up to date to the modern era. An outstanding Graham Phillips (Riverdale), who also acts as co-writer and director with his brother Parker, leads the cast from the front with a confident and powerful performance that has all shades of emotion. With a cast stacked with a variety of personalities and faces the film maintains characters that are both relatable but at the same time feel almost theatrical yet believeable.

The films tone throughout is both gritty and intense and yet still carries an odd beauty to it. A smartly crafted narrative is backed up with emotionally stunning visuals taking in and using the landscapes to enhance the story but it is in the scope where the film really succeeds. The visual style feels epic but at heart is an indie that just makes use of the sweeping locations when needed while creating an intensity to the more personal locations.

The best films are the ones which feel like student films as they are filled with passion and dont just feel like money spinners.'The Bygone'is a film that is simple and effective in the best ways. A smartly paced story that draws you in and keeps you gripped from start to finish with its suprisingly slick script  and well thought out narrative. With subject matter that could have hindered the project if handled wrong is used with care and to the effect that the film just gives a bigger impact. Co-writers and directors Graham and Parker Phillips succeed in creating a unique and original story that deserves to be seen.

VALENTINES FILM ALERT!! Romantic Comedy 'SAY MY NAME; out 10 Feb On Demand

Looking for a date film for Valentines Day? Check out 'Say My Name' available on demand from February 10th.

Think Rom-Com mixed with crime thriller, when a one-night stand gets interrupted by a robbery, two complete strangers are forced to navigate the seedy underbelly of a sleepy Welsh isle in order to get back their stolen property. Along the way, their opposing personalities and differing outlooks on life bring them to a boiling point. This independent romantic comedy written by British comedian and podcaster Deborah Frances-White (The Guilty Feminist, Deborah Frances-White Rolls the Dice) and directed by Jay Stern (The Changeling, The Adventures of Paul and Marian), invites viewers along on the duo’s night of unwanted self-discovery, that will have the couple either hating or loving each other by the morning.

A film that has two top performances from Lisa Brenner and Nick Blood who are the films heartbeat and really create the chemistry and standard for the rest of the cast. Some really funny and often darkly funny set pieces feel almost improved thanks to the films leading pair. Brenner brings flair to the british charm running through the film.Romantic comedies often feel corny and more often than not predictable but the cast create an almost dream like atmosphere to a crime thriller that is hidden in a romantic comedy.

Director Jay Stern creates an ambitious film that looks like a crime thriller but feels like a romantic comedy. Stern paces the film relatively slowly but it lends itself well as it puts a reliance on the actors to carry it forward like a play on the stage.  With a smart script from writer Deborah Frances-White who creates a very different romantic comedy that offers a wider appeal, more than traditional rom-coms which by their nature are more often female driven.

Brenner and Blood are the big winners here carrying this film from start to finish with standout performances . The film is very different and unlike most rom-coms and is a perfect date film for couples on Valentines Day and for those who have no one to watch it with it is an entertaining comedy that will make you smile.

Rogue Warfare - Part one of the explosive war trilogy starring Will Yun Lee & Stephen Lang will be available on digital download from 10th February

In the war torn desert of the Middle East, a new threat rises. The Black Masks, combining technology, an unwillingness to compromise, and brutal violence, stand on the forefront of national security to all nations and they must be stopped. The United States, along with the permanent members of the security council have held top secret meetings approving a covert mission to stamp out this new organisation. With unanimous approval from China, Russia, Great Britain and France, an elite squad of special forces is assembled, drawing representatives from each nation, who are classified as the very best each nation has to offer. They stand ready to carry out the world's most important mission: find and destroy The Black Masks. Will Yun Lee (Altered Carbon) is Daniel, part of an elite task force made up of soldiers from across the world, united to eliminate a common threat to civilization, the sinister group - the Black Masks. Rogue Warfare also stars action veteran Stephen Lang (Avatar, Don't Breathe).

Writer/Director Mike Gunther introduces the first part of his 'Rogue Warfare' trilogy, a gritty thriller that has a very grounded and reality based narrative. From the opening of the film there is a feeling of intensity that stretches throughout the film. With some striking locations that offer an extra dimension to the story as it adds depth to overall narrative. 

The cast is a collection of so many different faces and personalities that for the most part has really good chemistry but there are times when it feels a little fake this mostly occurs during more intimate scenes rather than the large scale action. Will Yun Lee and Stephen Lang are the key cast here and the films overall star power and both do excel as you come to expect from seasoned professionals. Lang does give a very understated performance  that is far away from his usual scene consuming turns.

Mike Gunther is better known for his stunt work rather than his directing and at times this does show where the more drama based scenes feel flat and like any real emotional connection. His skills real shine in the action scenes where Gunther is clearly more comfortable and it is these scenes that save the film from being both generic and ultimatly lacklustre. Gunther directs this like a 90s thriller creating a gritty backstory around subject matter that really resonates with the current climate in the world. His stylish use of the camera has a feeling of a low budget Michael Bay but Gunther is a little more reserved and the scenes do blend well together giving the film a good and decent pace which guides the films background intensity.

Rogue Warfare is a mixed bag film that has both good and bad points. While the story is a little patchy and can at times be predictable it does have some really effective action set pieces. Gunther is clearly a stunt director who lacks experience but is also gaining confidence more and more. It is not a perfect film and does possbily lack aspects of more realistic military films and stories but sometimes people can get too wrapped up in detail and forget to just get lost in the escapism films are made for.  

Helen Mirren presents Anne Frank: Parallel Stories - Available in select cinemas, week commencing 27th January

Oscar®-winning Actress, Helen Mirren, retraces Anne Frank’s life through the pages of her diary, and we are introduced to 5 other women who, as young girls, were also deported to concentration camps but survived the Holocaust. Born in Frankfurt on 12th June 1929, this documentary is dedicated to her memory and has been created to tell the story of her life to mark what would have been her 90th birthday.

“This is a story we must never forget. We are beginning to lose the generation of people who are living witness of what happened in Europe in those terrible days, and so it’s all the more important to keep the memory alive looking into the future. With the advent of the wars in Syria, Libya, Iraq, with the immigration issue that’s happening in Europe, it’s so easy to start pointing your finger at different races, different tribes, different cultures, different people and say ‘you’re to blame for my problems’. So, I just feel the diary of Anne Frank is an amazing teaching tool, an amazing vessel to carry the real understanding of human experiences of the past into our present and very much into our future. I find it very, very important and that’s why I wanted to do this piece”. - Helen Mirren

The story of Anne Frank is well known all over the world and this film looks deep into her story and its enduring legacy but at the same time looks at other similar stories of survival and the value of life. Helen Mirren introduces audiences to Anne's story through the words of her diary, an extraordinary text that has made the tragedy of Nazism known to millions of readers all over the world, and reveals the brilliant, enlightening intelligence of a young girl who wanted to become a writer. Mirren’s set, a perfect reconstruction of Anne’s room in her secret refuge in Amsterdam, with every detail carefully recreated by set designers from the Piccolo Theatre in Milan.

With a poetic  tone the film unfolds at a more theatrical pace rather than cinematic making use of an audiences already existing knowledge but expanding on it with details little known in mainstream society. Mirren is a perfect narrator for this telling the stories with a clear passion for what she is sharing. It is both haunting and for the most part disturbing but at the same time it does carry an oddly uplifting sub plot hearing how thes people had gone to hell and back and still not given up. Stories like this become more important considering the state of world affairs right now.

Anne's story is intertwined with that of five Holocaust survivors, Arianna Szörenyi, Sarah Lichtsztejn-Montard, Helga Weiss and sisters Andra and Tatiana Bucci. Once teenage girls just like Anne, with the same ideals, the same desire to live, the same courage. Like Anne, they too suffered persecution and deportation when they were very young. They were denied the carefree light-heartedness of their youth; they lost their families, friends and loved ones in the concentration camps. These stories of the survivors of the Holocaust put words on the blank pages of Anne's diary, as it fell silent when everyone in the secret refuge in Amsterdam was arrested on August 4th, 1944.Their testimonies, alternating with those of their children and grandchildren, convey the memory of all the evil they had to live through in the concentration camps, the strength of adolescence in the face of the Nazi oppressors and their cruelty, the return to a normal life and the will to pass on the memory of what happened to new generations.

'Anne Frank: Parallel Stories' is an important film bringing these harrowing stories to the big screen and it will leave you with a different view on life and will have you talking and questioning what you thought you knew about this story. Written and directed by Sabina Fedeli and Anna Migotto, original soundtrack by Lele Marchitelli, produced by 3D Produzioni and Nexo Digital in collaboration with Anne Frank Fonds, Basel.






Every so often there are films that come along and remind me why I love indie cinema so much.

From writer/director Staten Cousins Roe comes 'A serial Killers Guide To Life' a smart and intense dark comedy that is both disturbing at times but also oddly endearing. An almost psychological review of a person struggling with life and feeling lost looking for answers.


Anchored by two powerful performances from Katie Brayben (Lou Farnt) and Poppy Roe  (Val Stone) the film is acted almost like a play as the actors give off theatrical feel as you feel a connection that is more than just acting for the camera. The nicest thing about the story though is that it is not over acted as stories and films like this can be made to feel cheesey and more comedic than it is intended. But the cast are well measured and  give the film the grounded reality stories like this need. Alongside Brayben and Roe are a more than capable cast including Ben Lloyd - Hughes (Divergent, Me Before You, Malevolent ) and Emmy - nominated Sian Clifford (Fleabag, Vanity Fair, Dodgy Dave).

One of this films biggest strengths is its base simplicity. Both smart and original the film is definetly a cult smash in the making already gaining a fanbase on the festival circuit. Beautifully written and paced to near perfection the film maintains your focus from start to finish flipping from disturbing visuals to almost dream like landscapes. With a feel of 'Sightseers' and 'Thelma and Louise' it feels like a love note to original storytelling but smartly Staten Cousins Roe uses these elements and creates his own unique story and style which definetly makes 'A Serial Killer's Guide To Life' a very unique film.

Check out this one of a kind film when it arrives on digital platforms January 13th. With a sharp and slick script it will please fans of various preferences and has a twist that will draw in all those mystery lovers that will baffle all those people who believe they can predict what happens in films.

Staten Cousins Roe "I started my first feature film A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life with a small dedicated team and a tiny £30k budget - we shot at over 30 locations in only two weeks and edited it ourselves at home. At the festival premiere the audience response was immense and since then it’s gathered brilliant reviews. And now I’m excited to have my funny & violent road trip comedy become available to dist urb audiences across the world. I followed the do - it - yourself first film approach of my heroes Christopher Nolan, the Co e n brothers and Stanley Kubrick, and have made a truly independent film as my debut feature"


 'A  SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE' will be available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and all other UK , US and Canadian digital platforms from 13 th January 2020

Order on I-Tunes

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‘STALKED’ available now on demand


Nominated - Screen Rising Genre Star award for Rebecca Rogers

Former Royal marine Commando and single mother Sam is brutally kidnapped on her way to the pharmacy. She wakes up disoriented in what seems to be a deserted military factory. Worried that she has left her baby alone at home, she hurries to find a way out but all exits have been sealed.

A gripping and intense thriller that is both terrifying but oddly hypnotic. From the start the film is carried by an outstanding performance from Rebecca Rogers, 'STALKED' mixes a generic idea with a high concept horror narrative. While at times the film does tend to drag a little where the pacing slip so the story suffers but it does have a saving grace which is a lead character that you can relate to. One of the films core strengths is the use of technology and how director Justin Edgar uses them to add an extra dimension and suspense which is more relatable in todays society. These elements create a combustable narrative  along the lines of films like 'Unfriended' and 'My Little Eye'.

Edgar is a smart director who creates set pieces that are both imaginative but also visually appealing but at the same time does not over complicate things by trying to be too flashy. His writing is both simple but effective and while it can at times be a little slow paced he does retain enough originality to his stories to keep you guessing and keep you watching. 

Director Justin Edgar on where the idea from 'Stalked' came from  " I believe we’re living in a golden age of suspense thrillers and horror and I wanted to be part of that. I knew I had to come up with a cool suspense concept that could form the basis of the film. I’ve always been very interested in how we all love watching – reality TV, social media, CCTV, surveillance and phone cameras and how that relates to the nature of cinema - voyeurism and scopophilia – the fetish of watching. When I found all this conspiracy stuff on the interne t about quantum stealth suits, I realised it had great potential as a truly cinematic conceit. Once I’d done the research and had the story outline written, I wrote the first draft of the script in two weeks, writing a strict five pages a day, that’s how I always write. For me it ’ s the only way – power on through no matter what."

With a cast that are allowed freedom to express themselves,'STALKED' at times feels like it is packed with improv scenes but it is more down to performances rather than writing. Rebecca Rogers who was  nominated for the 2019 FrightFest Screen Genre Rising Star Award for 'STALKED', gives a high energy performance and is really the beating heart of this story.

'STALKED' is an interesting take on the slasher genre which is moulded by the reality tv shows of today but with the elements of a cult  pleasing story.

Writer/Director: Justin Edgar

Stalked is an original take on the serial killer theme, are you a fan of such movies? Thanks! Silence of the Lambs is one of my favourite films and the music and sound are awesome. In my mind Hannibal’s escape from Memphis Town Hall is the best piece of suspense cinema ever shot. However, what really makes that fil m are the actors and I think it’s interesting that Jonathan Demme was known more as a drama director and that’s what he brought to that film. The trick is always to build up the characters so we know how much is at stake, and we the audience will root for them.

Was it all shot on location? Yes. The film was entirely shot at a virtually deserted factory which used to have hundreds of employees and now has about five. The guys still working there are really friendly chaps, but it’s a spooky and vast empty sp ace. I found the factory and then wrote the script around the location. The spot where we filmed the scene where Sam grabs the oxyacetylene cannister is a paint spraying area and we all got high on paint fumes that day.

The effects are subtle and very well done, did you have much of a budget to play with? This was a very low budget film and I wanted it to have a very British horror feel. It was always meant to look quite grungy and real and virtually the entire film is handheld. All the effects had to have that feel in order to make it work. The first concept designs for the drone were a bit too “Battle of the Planets” glamour sci - fi with lasers etc. so we had to make it look more battered, as though it was produced as a prototype.

You’re a writer, director and producer, is there one role you enjoy the most? Definitely directing. I am gregarious and like to be around people and directing actors and creating characters is the best. I don’t know if I’m an actor’s director (whatever that is!), but I think I get on well with actors.

'STALKED' available now on demand


'SUPER SIZE ME 2: HOLY CHICKEN!' Available on demand now

Morgan Spurlock is back, the man behind 'Supersize Me' (2004) is back with 'Super size Me 2 :Holy Chicken. In his original documentary Spurlock looked at the concequences of a fast food based diet on the body by using himself as the guinea pig. Fifteen years later  chain restaurants tout food that's "healthy," "organic," and "natural." Spurlock explores this new reality with an approach even more immersive and subversive than that used for his first film: he sets out to open his own chicken franchise. We follow him every step of the way, from raising poultry and conjuring recipes to designing the brand and scouting a location. Spurlock brings his disarming humour to uncover the truths and lies behind this multibillion - dollar industry.

Spurlock is probably the most authentic and real documentary filmmaker and his ferarless approach made 'Supersize Me' connect with audiences all over the world as it became a suprise hit. The original made for uncomfortable viewing as Spurlock's body was put to the test but 'Holy Chicken' is far more immersive and holds a mirror up to the modern fast food industry as he goes deeper and looks into the inner workings behind it. 

In a world where fast food is a billion dollar industry and growing all the time Spurlocks documentary opens up opportunities to test the new "fresh" ingredients behind well known food chains and can at times be quite shocking. 

Spurlock "When Super Size Me came out in 2004, it took off like a rocket and connected with audiences in ways I could never imagine, both in the US and around the world. The film finally ignited in people a realization of personal responsibility and a desire to take control of their own lives. The first film really told the story of our relationship to fast food. SUPER SIZE ME 2: HOLY CHICKEN! examines this from the corporate side, show ing you the decisions that are made, the stories that are the spun, the corners that are cut and the lives that are impacted to get you, the consumer, what you believe to be the best food possible, at the most affordable price". 

'Super Size Me 2' is a documentary with mixtures of comedy and character but also has elements that will scare you. Spurlock is a man who redefined how documentaries are seen as his are not just informative but are more entertainingly informative which is mostly down to Spurlock himself he is likeable and down to earth but not afraid to fight for his own beliefs.

'Super size Me 2:Holy Chicken' is authentic and packed full of real life shocks as Morgan Spurlock once again takes on the ever growing fast food industry.

Sinister psychological thriller 'TILT' - Available on digital download from 25th November

From director Kasra Farahani (The Good Neighbor), comes the menacing thriller 'TILT'.

The story follows Joseph and Joanne. Joanne has a good job as a nurse and is pregnant with their first child. Joseph is hard at work on a documentary. Life in their little urban house is cozy. But something is off - Joe doesn't seem excited about the baby. He watches over Joanne as she sleeps. An injury he causes her might not have been an accident. Work on his film - a rambling indictment of American capitalism - is becoming increasingly untethered. 'TILT' explores how quickly the most familiar person in your life can become the most terrifying. How quickly we can become terrifying to ourselves. Joseph is a man who has spent his life doing everything he is expected to do, who has everything he is supposed to want...until suddenly, he's done. And now there's nothing left to do but blow it up."

Much like the recent Joaquin Pheonix film 'Joker', 'Tilt' feels like a broken mind being overtaken by a reactive compulsion for the darker things in life. A dark tone as we travel through a nightmare fall as Joseph loses his grip on himself. Farahani smartly avoids cliche horror elements and instead creates an almost found footage style visual which compliments the obssesive nature of the narrative. While the film could be said to be more of a thriller it can be argued that it is more of a horror due to its at times disturbing visuals but at the same time is unapologetic in its execution.

A powerfully emotive performance from Joseph Cross gives this story a gritty edge that you do sometimes find to be a little too close and scarily realistic. With a narrative that is more of a character study show the swiftness of how a man's mind can be negatively impacted as their life spirals out of his own  control. Cross is measured in his approach but is also clear and gives himself over to the story gladly. There is a downside to a strong central performance as it can often impact the performances of those around them.

Kasra Farahani handles the story with soft hands but gritty visuals. With stories like this directors can often force the films to make sense which ends up with the film being too slow paced or incoherent in the execution of narrative. With the documentarian styled approach Farahani gives the story the dimension it requires and is probably the best and most appealing side to this film.

'Tilt' is a slow burning thriller with a strong central performance but lacks a little something. It makes for an interesting and compelling watch but does leave you feeling like you want more  mostly due to the story feeling at points a little lacklustre as if a longer running time would open up more opportunity.

'Tilt' will be available on Digital Download from 25th November


'State Like Sleep' will be available on Digital Download from Monday 18th November

The film follows Katherine Grand (Katherine Waterston) who one year after the sudden death of her celebrity husband, receives a phone call that pulls her back to Brussels and the life there that she's tried to forget. Once back, she discovers a web of secrets that compel her to unravel the mysteries surrounding Stefan's last days alive. 'State Like Sleep'  stars Academy Award nominated Michael Shannon (The Shape Of Water) and the Fantastic Beast Series' Katherine Waterston as well as Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast) and the scene stealing Julie Khaner (Chloe).

From writer/director Meredith Danluck is a smart psychological thriller that feels like a throwback to thrillers of the 70s. At times a little slow paced and is a story that challenges audiences which not enough films do now. Much like a Hitchcock or a Christopher Nolan film 'State like Sleep' walks a fine line between mystery and thriller but with a smart tension that gets more intense as the film plays out. Anyone expecting just another generic thriller will be pleasently suprised but its more slow burning nature and narrative means some people might not buy into this as much as others. 'State like Sleep' has an ending you wont see coming and it will leave you with questions but you will no doubt be talking about it.

With a standout performance from katherine Waterston the film is blessed with talent. Michael Shannon is excellent as ever giving an understated performance and sharing an almost emotionally menacing persona within his character. Luke Evans feels a little under used in this story with his performance feeling a little more like a back seat driver. 

Writer/Director Meredith Danluck smartly lays this film out in simplistic fashion but maintains a gripping narrative throughout. Often thrillers aim to be ambitious in their execution but they can easily become over ambitious and lose some appeal, Danluck's smart story is this films central appeal which you can also be the attractive factor to such a quality cast.

From start to finish the film feels like a story told in a dream state and is a thriller that will keep you talking after the credits roll. 

'Ghost In The Graveyard' a chilling horror will be released on digital platforms Nov. 5th

From director Charlie Comparetto 'Ghost In The Graveyard' is an atmospheric horror with elements of Stephen King and Alejandro Amenabar's 'The Others' you feel the sense of unease from the start and you get drawn into the slow burning terror and it doesnt let go.

The story revolves around the town of Mt. Moriah which comes under the thumb of Martha, a ghost who comes back to haunt the teens, who witnessed her death as children, during a "game" of 'Ghost in the Graveyard.'The narrative unfolds like an urban myth similar to ghost stories you tell when you are younger which benefits the narrative at is creates a more grounded sense of realism.  It is smartly paced and retains a constant air of mystery much like the myth created by the Blair Witch film where the backstory becomes an added dimension.

A well cast film that does also include some recognisable faces like Jake Busey (Starship Troopers) and Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray), there are some terrifying and even beauftiful performances. Jake Busey in particular gives a well measured performance again proving him to be a versatile actor. Key to the films cast too is the outstanding performances of the younger stars who more than hold their own with the bigger name actors.

Writer/director Comparetto smartly lays out the story and the narrative like a mystery and allows the atmosphere to build slowly with a tension that the audience feel could snap at anytime but all it does is keep you guessing. It is a visually striking tale that from the outset has a simplistic but effective approach that is both gritty and dark but with a tone of a docu-drama.

'Ghost In The Graveyard' is a unique ghost story that is more of an urban myth tale rather than a film but its back to basic style of storytelling and approach to horror is what makes the films appeal. It is both vicious and unnerving but at the same time it also maintains a sense of beauty.


Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishburne to star in explosive drug thriller 'Running With The Devil' Available on Digital download from 4th November

When a cocaine shipment is compromised to the dismay of the Cartel's ringleader, The Boss (Barry Pepper) orders his most trusted Man (Laurence Fishburne) and another master drug trafficker, The Cook (Nicolas Cage), on a dangerous journey to audit the company's supply chain.

The film stars the iconic Nicolas Cage (Face Off / Mandy), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix / Hannibal) as well as Cole Hauser and Leslie Bibb. Jason Cabell makes his directorial debut, as well as writing the film. The former active-combat Navy SEAL will utilise his military experience and knowledge, having served in over 100 countries across the world.  

From the start the film feels like a Nicolas Cage film from the 90's when he was at the height of his career, and with the starry cast it maintains a real quality in performances. Cage leads the ensemble but is supported by the ever brilliant Laurence Fishburne with the pair showing a real strong chemistry no doubt built from both experience and a clear respect for each other. Alongside the two A listers the supporting cast do work well with each other with some scenes feeling more like a student film which does benefit the overall story.

Writer/director Jason Cabell uses personal experience well mixing it in with the films narrative which does give the film an extra dimension. Cabell much like Peter Berg with his films carries his projects with military like precision but he has a documentary style when it comes to visuals with the camera becoming the third person in more intense scenes rather than just an observer.

'Running With The Devil' is at times predictable  but much like the action/thrillers of the 80s and 90s as a viewer you have to allow yourself to be lost in the story and follow these well written characters. Escape for 90 minutes in this gritty thiller and you wont be disappointed. It is good to see Nicolas Cage continuing his recent comeback and is once again enjoying making movies.

Terrifying horror The Curse of Buckout Road comes to digital download from 28th October

'The Curse of Buckout Road' will be available on digital download, via all the major platforms, from the 28th October. The story follows a college class, whose project on the destruction of modern myth turns deadly when a trio of students discover that a series of horrific urban legends surrounding New York state's famed Buckout Road may actually be true.

Featuring performances from Lethal Weapon's Danny Glover, Henry Czerny (Ready or Not)& Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Wynonna Earp), the horror has been called an "...entertaining ride" by Eye For Film and is sure to get everyone in the Halloween mood this October!

Indie horror is a place where you can find the best storytellers can really flex there imaginations thanks to the genres ability to moulded in more ways than any other. Directed by Matthew Currie Holmes, 'The Curse of Buckout Road' is a nicely paced atmospheric horror that does offer up a likeness to a Ti West style film, slow burning chiller with a story you cant predict. There are elements here where the story is shot in a way that it does often feel as if it has a documentary feel when it is shot using a more rough guerilla style.

The film is laced with a talented cast and backed with some very experienced actors like Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), Henry Czerny (Mission Impossible), Colm Feore (Thor) even David Hayter the acclaimed writer of X-Men 1 and 2 and Watchmen. The mix of experience and youth benefits the film greatly as the younger cast do play off their better known co-stars showing good chemistry.

As with most indie horror films audiences either love or hate them rarely do their views fall in the middle. 'The Curse of Buckout Road' is a smartly paced story with a very interesting back story but as a slow burner it could fall negativly for some audiences. Its sometimes hammer horror feel benefits its appeal and the cast do carry the film well and given the opportunity it does make for a tense ride and will make Halloween that little bit more unnerving.

Brutal, honest and gripping 'Hate Crime' has to be seen

'Hate Crime' is a story which has an all too real place in the world today. The story revolves around a crime which sees a young gay man being murdered by his friend with the killer being sentenced to death. The families of both facing a long and draining time as the clock slowly ticks towards the execution and they both struggle to deal with the concequences of both sides. Fear becomes the defining factor for these families and their entire exsistence head down a dark path.

An expertly crafted story the narrative becomes a character study and delves deep into the inner workings of how suffering effects different people. In todays wold where hate is spread mostly by ignorance and 'Hate Crime' is a refection of one particular section of this with the story being disturbing and unnerving but at times feeling more like a documentary with its fact like approach. Often with films like this they can be over written with certain scenes packed with dialogue but lacking emotional connection but here there is a more grounded approach where dialogue is more minimal offering a more human approach.

With a well written script the film feels like an ensemble piece with most characters having at least one scene where they are able to showcase their own talents. The emotional core to the story means there are a number of draining scenes particularly for the central characters but there is a simple but effective feel to the approach where it at times feels more like a student film in the way that the actors are allowed to be creative and less restricted.

Director STEVEN ESTEB handles the sensitive subject matter carefully avoiding the generic and cliche attributes you would normally get with stories like this and instead creating a more grounded and gritty thriller like approach. The film is visually beautiful with a very raw feel to it even natural to a point from lighting to music. It could have been easy to just let the story speak for its self and it would have but it is credit to Esteb who manages to create a realistically visual and immersive experience that will have you talking after the credits roll.

'Hate Crime' is a disturbing story that never lets up from start to finish and should be seen by all.

TriCoast Entertainment has released ‘Hate Crime’ onto digital platforms (Amazon, InDemand, DIRECTV, FlixFling, FANDANGO, Hoopla, Vimeo on Demand, Vudu, AT&T, and Sling/Dish)

'The Prey' Asian Survival-Thriller will be available on Digital Download from 7th October

Directed by Jimmy Henderson (Jailbreak), newcomer Gu Shangwei and Vithaya Pansringarm (Only God Forgives, The Last Executioner) lead an International cast, with fight choreography handled by Jean-Paul Ly (Nightshooters, Doctor Strange).

Xin (Shangwei) is an undercover Chinese detective. When the criminals that he is investigating are arrested, he is mistakenly sent with them to a remote Cambodian prison. He quickly discovers that the warden (Pansringarm) has no intention of rehabilitating the prisoners, instead offering wealthy businessmen the ultimate hunting experience; human prey. Xin has no choice but to fight for his freedom in a brutal and sadistic game of hunter verses prey.

The film plays out like a John Woo film when he was in his best stage of his career making classics like 'The Killer'. With some incredible set pieces 'The Prey' is a smart but effectivly simplistic story that packs a punch that is at times disturbing. The story is at times violent but it is used in a way that it does not become an overriding factor in the film.

It is an intelligently designed story that is at times very restricted in dialogue but where as this is normally a negative it actually elevates the importance of the actors in this film. The minimalist apporach to the story means there is more responsibility laid on the actors to carry the narrative both visaully and emotionally which the cast do confidently. 

While films like this dont always find their audience it does have the properties to become find a cult following like films like 'Ong-Bak' back in 2003. 'The Prey' is a film that will either be loved or hated but it deserves to be given a chance and it is beautfully written but also visually effective and well directed. It is an intense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

Commenting on the release, Peter Thompson, Sales & Acquisitions Director at Lightbulb Film Distribution, said: “We are delighted to be releasing The Prey in the UK. As fans of the director’s last film, Jailbreak, we thought we knew what to expect – but Henderson delivers even more intense violence and spectacular martial arts. It’s 90 minutes of fast-paced action, which will more than satisfy genre fans.”

The Prey will be available on Digital Download from 7th October 



A Wanting Film Inc production, ISABELLE is about an all-American couple whose dream of starting a family is shattered after they move into the perfect neighbourhood in upstate New York. Once settled, they soon descend into the depths of terror as they struggle to survive a genuine threat from a dark presence that appears to want to end their very lives.

'Isabelle' is directed by Rob Heydon (director of the award - winning film Ecstacy ), from a screenplay by Donald Martin ( Milton’s Secret ). Heydon ( Th e Journey Home ) also produces the film, with Sid Ganis ( Akeelah and the Bee , Big Daddy ), Joni Sighvatsson ( Z for Zachariah ), Rey Cuerdo ( Dim Sum Funeral ) and Donald Martin ( Milton’s Secret ) as Executive Producers. Cinematographer Pasha Patriki ( Anonymous ), production designer Diana Abbatangelo ( He Never Died ), costume designer Ruth Secord ( Wet Bum ), and editor Diane Brunjes ( Suicide Squad ) complete the creative team.

Director Rob Heydon describes Isabelle “as a psychological thriller a bout a husband and wife who lose a child, and must deal with the wife’s psychological crisis that follows; it’s about a marriage falling apart, and it’s also about the mother and daughter next door and their impact on the couple.”

Star Adam Brody describes the idea of grieving that threads through the story. “The grief in this movie is visceral. You don't have to dig too hard to empathize with the cha racters and most people of a certain age can relate to the fear of losing a child.” The death of a beloved family dog gave Brody a glimpse into the effect grief can have, and the feelings it evokes. “There's nowhere to go but forward. That's the craziest t hing about it, that there's nothing to do. In terms of grieving, in terms of fearing for a child, I can certainly relate.”

Donald Martin’s screenplay is his homage to Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, two classic films that loomed large in his imagination while he was growing up: “Rosemary's Baby isn’t a story about Satan. It's about a marriage. The Exorcist isn't a story about a possession. It’s about a mother and a daughter. These stories are firmly rooted in reality,” Donald said. Similarly, ISABELLE is about a couple. “It’s a story that, initially, is about a woman's depression after losing a baby and her husband's inability to grasp the full emotional implications of their son being stillborn,” explains Martin. “The husband was always the person who said, "Everything's going to be all right. Everything's going to be all right." But, suddenly, this couple finds themselves in a scenario where the husband can't say that anymore.”

It was love for the script that attracted Producer/Director Rob Heydon to the project  “I just couldn’t stop reading it. I kept turning the pages, wanting to find out what happens next. Donald Martin mastered the twists, the turns and the surprises. I was in.”

Low budget indie horror films always carry the burden that they are either loved or hated there is rarely a middle ground with them and 'Isabelle' is no different. With a smartly laid out narrative it does have the benefit of starting out with an interesting and gripping story. Director Rob Heydon sets out his vision from the start weaving a tight well paced story that keeps you guessing right to the end. There are at times though were the story feels forced as if the actors are over playing the dialogue which can cause the audience to disconnect and lose interest.

The films saviour are the visuals, echoing films like 'The Ring' and 'The Grudge' where simplicity is the key attraction to drawing in viewers. Heydon handles this eclectic cast well but you do at times feel performances are restrained and generic and would benefit from a little more freedom particularly with actors like Adam Brody.

While 'Isabelle' is far from perfect it does have its appeal and will most probably find its market as in a more cult fashion.


RAPID RESPONSE in UK cinemas 6th September

Back in 1966 Medical student and racing fan Stephen Olvey was handed an opportunity that would change both his life and the face of motorsports forever. Olvey was asked to volunteer on the medical team at the Indianapolis 500.

As he witnessed the race from a viewpoint he had never had before even befriending some of the drivers. But as he looked on at one particular incident, which turned out to be fatal, and he soon came to realize that the medical support needed was near non existent. Olvey set out on a mission to build a team to apply the science develop and prioritise the safety of the drivers. Olvey's pioneering work has gone on to inluence everything from the United States military, NASA, and the passenger cars we drive today as well as modern trauma medicine. Rapid Response is the true story of this terrifying era in motorsport and the 30 year journey to redefine the safety of the  drivers. These safety pioneers transformed the world’s most dangerous sport into the still spectacular, markedly competitive, but much safer activity it is today. Death and serious injury s till lurk at each and every venue but racing drivers can now expect to survive through their careers. Many individuals combined their efforts to deliver these results and Rapid Response sets out to tell the story of how it happened.

At the spine of the film is the team: Dr Stephen Olvey, Dr Terry Trammel, Mario Andretti, Robert William 'Bobby' Unser,  Alfred 'Al' Unser, Rick 'Ravon' Mears, Hélio Alves de Castro Neves, Antoine Rizk allah Kanaan "Tony" Filho, Refus Parnell ‘’Parnelli’’ Jones, Floyd " Chip " Ganassi Jr.

Co-Director Michael Miles "I was Doctor Trammell’s patient from the time I was about 8 years old until he retired from practice a few years ago. Naturally growing up in the Indianapolis area I was a racing fan and one of my favorite drivers was Rick Mears.

In 1984 Mears had a frightening accident at IndyCar race at Saniar Raceway in Canada where both of his lower legs were very badly shattered. B oth of Rick’s feet were so mutilated that the local trauma doctors were suggesting amputation. Instead he was flown to Methodist in Indianapolis where my doctor and his team saved Rick’s lower legs and feet in an operation that lasted more than half the night.

Later, when I would visit his office for checkups, he’d tell me wonderful stories about Mears, the other drivers, the race tracks that he had visited, and the sort of things that he and his team were able to do for injured drivers. His work is almost legendary, except that it’s all true and tough. Brave drivers like Rick will always choke up a bit talking about it.

Doctor Trammell never liked the term “miracle worker” and always gave his surgical team the greatest part of the credit. As it turns out my personal exposure to this man when I was quite young has been a large part of what got me interested in this project in the first place. Dr. Trammell operated to fuse my spine for my scoliosis when I was just 16, and a few years later he performed anot her surgery on my right collar bone.

Years later, when I was working and living in Los Angeles I got hit by a car in while in a pedestrian crosswalk on Ventura Blvd. which destroyed my right hip. My West Coast Doctors called Doctor Trammell for my records and had him review my x - rays to make sure no damage was done to my spine in the accident. Always sweating the details, he continued to consult with them on my rehabilitation almost daily from halfway across the country.

A few weeks after I was out of the hospital Doctor Trammell was in Los Angeles on business and came by to visit me while I was recovering at home. It was really just supposed to be a drop - by social visit, but the doctor, being Doctor Terry Trammell of course, actually gave me a very thorough looking over right there in my little apartment.

It was that day sitting talking to him about his work and the passion that he had for it, that I decided I was going to make Rapid Response as soon as I was healed. Doctor Trammell, Doctor Olvey, and others like those two giants don’t do what they do for glory, I honestly think that they have something that burns inside that won’t allow them to do anything else. I only hope our team has been able to capture some of that spirit in this film."

Co-Director Roger Hinze talked about the origins of the film "Looking back, I guess this project has been a decade in the making if you start from the point that Mike optioned the rights to the book Rapid Response from Dr. Olvey . It was 2010 when Mike first showed me a copy of the book and told me about his plan to shoot a documentary."

Documentaries of the last few years have become more widely accepted on a cinematic scale and at times carry just as much appeal as mainstream films.Rapid Response is gripping journey that has all the twists and turns of a full on cinematic thriller. From the start the film, alot of which is beautifully crafted from stock footage, has you gripped as it unfolds slowly and has an odd sense of suspense you dont expect to get with documentaries. While the film is ultimately one of succeeding over adversity it is at times disturbing at you follow incidents, some fatal, that had happened that lead to the research that makes racing safer today. Racing fans will love this insightful film but it will also appeal to film fans much like the documentary Blackfish which captivated cinema audiences not so long ago.



In UK Cinemas September 6th

Killers Anonymous - Action Thriller heading for UK Cinemas from 27th August & Digital Download from 26th August

Cinema legend Gary Oldman leads a rag tag cast in this off the wall thriller. A relativly straight to DVD style film but it doesnt as most would think mean it is not worth checking out. 


While the film is far from perfect and eagle eyed viewers could pick apart the plot holes in the narrative fans of brit gangster flicks could find some attraction with this. Oldman is as ever reliable but does at time struggle with the shaky story and script which almost screams 'Tarantino wanna be', but having him as the back bone to the film is easily the biggest selling point. Alongside Oldman is a wealth of british talent including Suki Waterhouse (Assassination Nation), Tim McInnerny (Eddie the Eagle), Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy), Michael Socha (This Is England), as well as Jessica Alba (Sin City). Elements of the film do have shades of Robert Rodriguez and his El Mariachi trilogy but it unfortunatley lacks the inventivness and slickness of the cult favourites.

Director Martin Owen (Lets Be Evil) tries to steer the muddled narrative and for the most part fails but is saved from being an overall flop by his experienced cast. When you have Gary Oldman in your film it will never be a failiure but Killers Anonymous definetly falls closer to failiure than overall success.

The Movie Partnership and Bird Box Distribution are excited to announce that star studded action thriller Killers Anonymous will premiere at King's Cross Everyman Cinema on 27th August, with a special Q&A. The film will be released in selected UK cinemas from 28th August and will also be available on Digital Download, DVD & Blu-ray from 26th August.

Jamie Lee Curtis stars in political thriller, An Acceptable Loss, available on Digital Download from 15th July

Stylish and slick with a suprisingly appealing visual it is a gripping story that could have easily played out as a TV thriller as the narrative is flexible and could have packed in more detail. A well measured cast and performances that give a full likeability factor that means that audiences are more likely to buy into the story. At times slow paced it relys on the appeal of the cast which can does negativly effect the story but there is a strength in the narratives twists.

Fans of shows like Designated Survivor will revel in the tightly woven story which Chappelle handles well although his direction is a little more visually focused at timesmaking it more style over substance. A smart score melds well with the story and enhances the narratives intensity driving each scene with extra substance.

Although not a central star in the cast one key selling point for the film is the legendary Jamie Lee Curtis. An underrated actress who is best known for her role in the Halloween franchise but has starred in pretty much every genre going. 

An Acceptable Loss has its faults but maintains the feel of a tightly woven thriller and in ways like a 90s thriller like the Tom Cruise Starring The Firm.

The film features Golden Globe winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis (True Lies, Halloween), in a role where she "creates a monster so terrifying she’d have Michael Myers turning tail and running away" (Chicago Sun) and Tika Sumpter following her stand out performance as Michelle Obama in Southside With You.

Written and directed by Joe Chappelle (The Fringe, The Wire) An Acceptable Loss is a gripping political thriller following Libby (Sumpter). Libby teaches at a university, but 4 years ago she was top aide to Vice President Rachel (Curtis) and was part of a total victory action. Rachel is now US president and worried about Libby keeping quiet. Libby also has problems within her own university as she fears a student spying on her.


British comedy gem Eaten By Lions will be available on Digital Download on 22nd July, available to pre-order now and on DVD from 29th July.

With an all star cast including Jack Carroll, Antonio Aakeel, Asim Chaudhry, Johnny Vegas and Hayley Tamaddon 'Eaten By Lions' is the heartwarming feel good film that has everything.

Director, co-writer Jason Wingard has crafted an emotionally driven story about family and togetherness. While the cast pull off well thought out performances, alot of credit has to go to Wingard. His beautifully laid out script lays out a narrative that will have you belly laughing but at times crying. Wingard creates beautiful visuals with an eye pleasing colour pallet that seems to smartly brighten as the story plays out. He uses the seaside location of Blackpool as an almost supporting actor as it provides an extra dimension to the journey the characters find themselves on. There is a smartness and grittyness to the story which Wingard fine tunes with his natural comedic instincts. Like a blend of Spike Jonze, Wes Anderson and Michel Gondry Wingard has a unique style which is eye catching and at times eccentric but always visually appealing.

The core strength of the story is the chemistry between Omar and Pete (Antonio Aakeel, and Jack Carroll), both play off each other perfectly and they feed off of each other and as the film plays out they become clearly more confident. One particular scene involving Tarot cards is particularly well played out with the pairs timing absolutley spot on. Aakeel gives a mature performance in the central role seemlessly adapting from comedy situations to more downplayed emotional scenes and he seems born to play this role. Jack Carroll just seems to enjoy everything he does. His comedy instincts are faultless and it just seems at times effortless.  With Comedy greats Johnny Vegas and Asim Chaudhry offering their support in smaller but perfectly measured roles the films comedy appeal is both vast and appeals to a wide audience. By the end of the film you will feel both fulfilled but also that you want more as you will be in love with these charcters by the time it reaches its climax. With any film the cast are the ones that pull in the audiences as they are the visual reference and the 'Eaten By Lions' ensemble are perfect they are the backbone to the films overall mass appeal. If a cast look like they are having fun then audiences are more willing to join them on the ride.

A particular highlight for me is the quirky use of music and mixing it with visual stylings. A perfect example of this being the visually beautiful title sequence.

'Eaten By Lions' is a gem of a film that has a feel good factor. If you need to escape the crazy world for a few hours  this is the perfect film.

Congratulations to the cast and crew on a beautful film.


Q&A with writer and director Jason Wingard

Q -How did Eaten ByLions become a feature film?

A: The idea for the film started back in 2011. I’d won Virgin Media Shorts and myself and David Isaac wereworking on a comedy short with Chris Collins from the BFI at the time. We were shortlisted on that years iFEATURES with a comedy road trip idea called (at the time) ‘Going To Mecca’. Chris Collinssuggested to me that we make our iFeatures pitch into a short rather than the other short -which was about a middle-classriot -it was called ‘Looters’. He said it could be a precursor to a feature film, so ‘Going To Mecca’ it was ...Mike Elliott at EMU films produced it. Sadly Chris Collins passed away not long after we completed the short, so for a while we put the film to bed. Then in 2014 the filmwas resurrected by Matt Carroll who introduced me to executive Chris Bouckley. There seemed to be an infectiousenthusiasm for the project from Matt and with the investors help a script was commissioned in 2015/16. Soon after thatwe started filling key positions and Hannah Stevenson (who had also worked with me on the short) was lined up toproduce. After years of hardwork and persistence we managed to go into production in May 2017.The film was written with Jack Carroll and Asim Chaudhry in mind. Both are fantastic comic performers and we knew rightaway we wanted them in the film. Many of the cast I had worked with before such as Jack Carroll, Johnny Vegas, PeterSlater and Tom Binns -who are all a joy to work with and supremely talented. We added Nitin Ganatra, Vicki Pepperdineand Kevin Eldon to the cast and for me it was like working with your comedy heroes. I’m so delighted this film has beenmade. It very much feels like we’ve formed a close knit group of cast and crew and hopefully we will all get to collaborate again.

Q -This is your second feature film –Your first film was very different wasn’t it?

A: Yes, very different. Almost a polar opposite. ‘In Another Life’ was a zero-budget drama we shot in the Calais Jungle andwas largely improvised using refugees as actors and mixing them with actors we had with us. Our reasons for making itwere driven by an emotional response to what we had seen on TV. We had a good start on the festival circuit andrecently won Best UK Feature at Raindance 2017 and then went on to win theBIFA discoveryaward. ‘Eaten By Lions’ has been like returning to my comedy roots in many ways, not thatI see myself only making comedies in the future it’s just that it feels like a natural home. I met many of the people workingon or in the film whilst gigging on the stand-up comedy circuit inManchester in thelate nineties. It was around that time Istarted making comedy shorts with comedians I knew. These films resulted in me making content for BBC ComedyNorth. Tom Binns and I made loads of shorts together during that time. I think we really thrived on that freedomand the shorts we made became the basis for Tom’s BBC series -“Hospital People’. I think when you work withcomedians on films they really respond if you create a safe environment for them to try things. I’ve always wanted to takethe pressure away and just let them have fun with the material. You get some unexpected and often very funny results.

Q -What is the film about?

A: I always wanted to make a progressive comedy. The film follows Pete and Omar (half brothers) who have been raised by their granafter their parents (Pete’s mother and father) pass away after a bizarre accident. The story is essentially about the importance of familyand we wanted to draw attention away from stuff like Jack’s disability. I wanted the viewer to forget about it and just treat him as acharacter. It’s an attitude we applied to everyone in the film really. The story deals with big contemporary issues (class, diversity,disability, inter-racial relations, foster and adoption, sexuality, love, life and death) in a sharp and often irreverent way. But it is not aboutthose big issues it is about people and relationships. It is a very modern relevant comedy that will hopefully will be viewed for years to come.

Q -What would you like an audience to take away from the film and were there any inspirations for it?

A: Well first and foremost it is a comedy so we want to entertain and make people laugh. I think the film also has a lot of emotionalheart. I think this is important for a comedy too. If you think about your favourite comedy moments they are usually situations ratherthan jokes or one liners that people remember. I think in order for a viewer to really relate and engage with the film you need that heartwithin the characters. I’d like to think it’s relatable and that viewers will enjoy going on the journey of discovery with the young boys inthe film. Essentially they are smart kids surrounded by stupid adults. There are plenty of comic appearances in the film and this tookthe pressure off the young performers. I suppose the biggest inspiration would be the documentary film maker and photographerMartin Parr. I love his satirical look at life in the UK and his take on class, culture etc. His photographs were possibly the films biggest influence.

'Unromantic Comedy' For Love Or Money Starring Samantha Barks Available on Digital Download From 8th July

FOR LOVE OR MONEY follows Mark, and life is sweet, or so you might think if you were in Mark's shoes. He's about to make £20 million on a business deal that he's kept secret from everyone, even his best friend Tim. To add to his luck, a chance encounter at a funeral has given him another shot with the love of his life, Connie. The two fall head over heels in love and not long after get engaged. The film features a strong British cast with leading performances from Broadway star and Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated actress Samantha Barks (LES MISÉRABLES) & Robert Kazinsky (TRUE BLOOD), FOR LOVE OR MONEY also stars Outlander's Ed Speleers, After Life's Tony Way & Anna Chancellor (Four Weddings and a Funeral). 

While the film has its faults it is far more quirkier than expected.There are alot of generic points here as you find in most 'romantic comedies' 'For Love Or Money' tries to steer away from predictable, succeeding and failing at the same time. The plot is relativly slow but it is the characters that feel like a saving grace as they are both relatable and endearing, apart from Ed Speleers who becomes one of the most annoying characters you have ever seen. Leading man Kazinsky gives an assured but underwhelming performance doing what he has to do to carry the story without really shining. Samantha Barks plays against type here avoiding her pigeon hole character of the pretty innocent girl and plays a more hard edged woman.

The film was never going to break records it has a number of both appealing and suprising aspects. It is beautifully shot with each scene having its own artistic scope which makes the story shine, even on a low budget the right approach can give a film its own identity. 


Available on Digital Download From 8th July

Sinister horror Boo! set for Digital Download release on 17th June


Married with two kids, James and Elyse are struggling to keep the family together. Along with the couple's own rifts, their daughter, Morgan, is hiding her own suicidal thoughts, while younger son, Caleb, channels his suppressed emotions through troublingly macabre artwork.

One night, their true test arrives: a strange Halloween game left on their doorstep that, legend has it, leaves a curse on those who choose not to play. Unfortunately, that's the choice this family makes—and all kinds of evil spirits are ready to make them pay.

At times predict the narrative of these sorts of films but BOO! while at times cheesey is actually still quite smartly laid out. You can feel the influences of Blum house horror such as Insidious and Sinister (Executive Producer Brian Kavanaugh-Jones acted as a producer on both) which always have relatable characters at the center of their stories.

The story itself is suprisingly slick but at times suffers pacing issues as most low budget horror do. Films like this are not always for everyone but from the outset you feel it will find a cult status especially among horror fans. Often witty the story is nothing new but is more different in its execution offering its scares through atmosphere rather than straight up jumps, although there are a few of those. There is always something appealing about a film that you feel like you are genuinly drawn into and riding along with the characters, that is down to the credit of the writers and director.

There is a feeling of an 80s horror to this along even down to its stylings and often darkly comic narrative. BOO! is an unusal experience that wont suit most people but horror fans will enjoy this particularly fans of 70s and 80s horror.   


Highlighted films from the 2019 SCI-FI London Film Festival

After We Leave : Director- Aleem Hossain

Near future, Los Angeles is a bleak place: permanent recession, water shortages, and rising crime. Six years ago, Jack abandoned his wife and vanished. Now he's back because before he left, they'd applied for a visa to immigrate to a better life on an off-world colony. The permit has finally come through, but there's a catch: it's a couple’s visa, and Jack cannot leave Earth without his wife. Is Jack back because he wants to make things right or because he needs his wife so he can use this "lottery ticket" to a better life?

A hypnotic Philip K. Dick style story. With a narrative that keeps on edge throughout it offers up a suprising amount of heart but also maintains elements of a suspensful thriller. Hossain maintains a calm controlled love story with his smart but slick script, which does also feel quite theatrical which is amplified by the driven performances. The cast are the key to the soul of this film as they carry the beat of the story well and are very relatable.

Critical- 7/10 Audience- 7/10

Artist Depiction :Director- Brett Ryan Bonowicz


Stunning, a beautiful view of the magic of space through the eyes of three incredible artists. Like nothing you have ever seen before it offers a unique insight into a side of space exploration little known until now.

Critical- 8/10 Audience- 7/10

Lucid : Director- Adam Morse


A thought provoking film with incredible visuals. While the concept is not really anything new it is executed with flair which gives it a unique angle. It is cast well and while the narrative does have a section where it is a little slow it does build up enough pace to maintain interest.

Critical- 7/10 Audience-7/10


'Black Flowers' is a new take on the apocalypse

Two years after the nuclear bombs dropped and welcome to the future, where there's no fuel or power, and society is a barbaric mess. Survivors Kate (DeMille), husband Sam (Ron Roggé), and daughter Suzi (Andrea Sweeney Blanco) are searching for a rumored bunker that people say is full of food and medicine. On route, they meet the solitary Joe (Jesús Lloveras), who may not have the group's best interests at heart. Kate will have to do everything possible to protect her family.

From writer/director Martin Gooch (The Gatehouse, The search for Simon) comes 'Black Flowers'  a apocalyptic tale that packed with beautiful visuals and outlandish characters. The film opens with a punch as we witness the end of the world and the start of a new darker nightmarish landscape. The opening is a particular high point of the film as it sets a tone that carries throughout. It offersd up elements of a Terry Gilliam film but with a more gritty edge.

The film follows a family of survivor Kate, who along with her husband Sam and daughter Suzi who follow a path through the toxic landscape as they seek safety and a place to live out what little life they can. Krista DeMille gives a charasmatic performance as Kate, a woman willing to do what ever it takes to survive and protect her family. DeMille offers up an emotionally driven performance but effortlessly blends this with comedic timing too. The most powerful scenes involve the interactions between DeMille and Andrea Sweeney-Blanco who plays her daughter Suzy their performances are well measured and the pair clearly play well off of each other  which shines through.

Director Martin Gooch, who also produces the film alongside DeMille, handles this film with flair. He utilizes the beautiful locations framing them as supporting artists in the film, the bunker is a particularly striking location. Most apocalyptic stories become generic quite quick and are run of the mill showing a survivor or group of survivors working their way through the narrative fighting monsters or other survivors but 'Black Flowers' saviour is its humor. The basis for the humorous element is the slick dialogue and quite open ended narrative where it keeps you guessing all the time. Gooch paces the film well and mixed with the humor it feels more realistic than most apocalyptic films, showing a more human struggle with a new more non exsistant society.

'Black Flowers' has alot to offer and is a brave new approach to an apocalyptic sci-fi thriller but yet it keeps you gripped and you are escorted through the beautiful but toxic landscapes to the unexpected ending.

'Black Flowers'

'Shed Of The Dead'  World Premiere May 18th then available May 20th on digital download

Narrated by the legendary Brian Blessed and boasting a stellar cast including some horror royalty Kane Hodder (Jason X, Hatchet), Bill Moseley (Devil's Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses) and Michael Berryman (Hills have eyes, Lords of Salem), Shed of the dead is a love note to the zombie genre.

Directed by Drew Cullingham the film wont be appealing to all but will most defiently find its home with cult audiences. Much like Shawn of the dead it plays off of a comedy horror narrative but while it lacks the slickness of the Simon Pegg classic it does have some very clever visuals and with Blessed narrating it carries an almost fairytale like overtones. Spencer Brown gives a likeable performance as the down trodden Trevor hiding away from the outside world in his allotment shed and dreaming of his fantsy alter ego, his heroic wargames character. Things begin to unravel in his perfect hideaway as one of the other allotment tennats petitions to have him removed and leaves Trevor with a corpse to hide but his problems dont end their as a zombie apocalypse begins unfolding around his shed fortress of solitude.

With a wide ranging ensemble there is good chemistry with performances theat do just enough to have you at times belly laughing but at other times can lose focus a little which slows the narrative and it steers away from comedy and heads more towards outright predictable. Luckily the visually pleasing mixture of the fantasy dreamscapes and the zombie onslaught save this from being a bargain basement film. 

It might not be for everyone and it might not be showered with awards but 'Shed Of The Dead' will dind its audience particularly with the fans of the zombie genre.


One of the most uplifting films in years 'A Boy Called Sailboat' available on digital download May 6th

A charming story that will have you smiling from ear to ear. From writer/director Cameron Nugent comes this enchanting tale of a young boy who with the discovery of a little guitar embarks on a magical and emotional journey with his loving but often off the wall family.

Nugents story packs an emotional punch and is smartly set out to allow for audience interpretation allowing them to follow Sailboat but keeping the story on an almost fantasy like edge. It can be easy with films like this to over rely on predictably attractive aspects like the cuteness of the kids but Nugent maintains the narratives integrity while being encouraging to the kids and their performances. With a refreshingly uplifting musical undertone to this story it becomes an emotional rollercoaster that is smart and compelling but most importantly original, something which cinema has lacked in the last few years.

Starring JK Simmons, who is as reliable as ever, and Jake Busey the film has a cast of actors you will recognize but might not know their name such as Noel Gugliemi who has been in films like The Fast and the furious and Training Day, but as you can guess it is the kids who shine here lead by a star turn from Julian Atocani  Sanchez as Sailboat. His perfectly measured performance will have you gripped but also emotionally drained. His performance has shades of Abigail Breslin's award worthy performance in indie hit 'Little Miss Sunshine', he is both note worthy but also on a professional level very competent.

A Boy Called Sailboat does have it flaws and might not be for everyone because it is at times slow burning but does have enough character to maintain both attraction and thought provoking elements. It is a film that will just make you smile and puts life into perspective.

Available on digital downlaod May 6th this charming film deserves to be seen.


'A Boy Called Sailboat' available on digital download May 6th

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles set to offer free admission to under 18s thanks to a grant from George Lucas Family foundation

The George Lucas Family Foundation committed a grant to the Academy Museum in honour of Sid Ganis, former president and current VP of the Academy’s board of governors and chair of its Museum committee. 

The transformative grant will go towards enhancing the educational aims of the museum and create an atmosphere for the filmmakers and visual artists of the future to grow and learn. A key aspect will be to use the funds to create and endowment underwriting free admission for visitors aged 17 and under. This is aimed at developing both opportunities and inspiring the younger generation and showcasing the magic of cinema. The funds also allow the museum to open financial barriers to experience the museum and everything it has to offer.

Opening up the doors to the younger generation creates further opportunities for engagement inspiring them to be confident to tell their own stories and create their own visual magic. The educational goal of the museum is to inspire the visitors and open them up to cultural inspiration but while not all who visit may choose to go into filmmaking, the cultural and artistic incentives when utilized right can open up a person’s individual confidence.

Sid Ganis said “I could not be more honoured and humbled by George’s gift to young movie lovers around the world. Education has always been a primary goal of George’s storytelling. Now through his incredible generosity young people from everywhere can experience and learn about the arts and techniques of filmmaking. With the impending openings of the Academy Museum and the Lucas Museum of narrative art, Los Angeles will soon have two major new resources for cultural and education with a shared focus on the art of storytelling and a dedication to the next generation. We are proud and grateful that the George Lucas Family Foundation is making this tremendous commitment to serving the young people of LA.”

As the museum looks to expand its educational reach Amy Homma has joined as the first director of education and public engagement. Homma will oversee the museums K-12 programming which includes the Shirley Temple Education Studio initiatives as well as implementing public programmes which includes things such as lectures, talks and online offerings. Homma will carry the museums educational offering developing links with local schools and communities creating a space for youngsters to develop a critical approach to the media and how it works and develop both the confidence and skillset to make their own film and digital content.

Homma said “movies and the magic that surrounds them, offer limitless opportunities to delight, challenge and educate both children and adults. The Academy museum’s programming will offer something for everyone. I am delighted to be joining the team and especially grateful to the George Lucas Family Foundation for ensuring a barrier free experience for our next generation of movie makers and movie lovers.”

Family favourites retain top billing at the UK box office 18/04/19

The experts at Applaudience see the Easter holiday warmth hitting the UK box office but Dumbo and Shazam still holding strong. Alongside Dumbo and Shazam!, other family films including Wonder Park and Missing Link remain in the top ten. Wild Rose is expected to keep its place in the top 10 and set to earn an additional £400,000 in Box Office sales with new stalker drama Greta forecast to reach £450,000.

1 - Dumbo - £1,600,000 - £1,700,000 (-32%)

2 - Shazam! - £1,450,000 - £1,550,000 (-44%)

3 - Red Joan - £730,000 - £830,000 (New Entry)

4 - Captain Marvel - £680,000 - £880,000 (-12%)

5 - Wonder Park - £610,000 - £810,000 (-14%)

6 - Hellboy - £450,000 - £550,000 (-62%)

7 - Greta - £400,000 - £500,000 (New Entry)

8 - Missing Link - £360,000 - £460,000 (-23%)

9 - Wild Rose - £350,000 - £450,000 (-51%)

10 - Pet Sematary - £320,000 - £420,000 (-56%)

Red Joan starring british legend Dame Judi Dench is a strong entry this week in a period wherethe box office is gearing up for AVENGERS Endgame next week. While Endgame is predicted to dominate the box office for a long period the pre sales at the box office are maintaining a steady pace:

Advance ticket sales as of 11am 18th April 2019

Dumbo - 11,437 Advanced Ticket Sales from 6,671 Showtimes

Shazam! - 5,645 Advanced Ticket Sales from 6,598 Showtimes

Red Joan - 6,576 Advanced Ticket Sales from 3,741 Showtimes

Captain Marvel - 4,266 Advanced Ticket Sales from 4074 Showtimes

Wonder Park - 3,788 Advanced Ticket Sales from 4,118 Showtimes

Hellboy - 2,225 Advanced Ticket Sales from 2,926 Showtimes

Greta - 3,073 Advanced Ticket Sales from 2,841 Showtimes

Missing Link - 2,434 Advanced Ticket Sales from 2,841 Showtimes

Wild Rose - 2,281 Advanced Ticket Sales from 2,007 Showtimes

Pet Sematary - 1,599 Advanced Ticket Sales from 2,382 Showtimes

Showtimes are the number of individual screenings across all cinemas

Avengers Endgame is set for release next week and with pre sales soaring it could become the biggest film of the decade and secure Marvel's dominance of the UK box office. As we reach the final week before Avengers: Endgame launches across the globe and culminates ten years of films in the MCU, the incredible figures are starting to stack up. Audiences will need to start pre-booking their tickets very soon or miss out, with an estimated 180 UK screenings already fully booked and over 900 screenings listed as Selling Out*. With a staggering 1,258,144 tickets sold as of 11am today, Avengers: Endgame has already made £13,150,171 in Box Office sales already. This means Endgame has already beaten Captain Marvel's opening weekend and a staggering 1.9% of the British population already have bought tickets!  

About Applaudience

Applaudience combines data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis with strategic communication during the theatrical movie release processes. They own real-time showtime, occupancy, ticket price and film marketing performance data for all major exhibitors in Europe and North America. The supply revenue-driving insights about the industry’s performance and identify marketing opportunities with the highest ROI. Their goal is to increase attendance of the existing audiences by enabling data-rich collaboration between exhibitors and distributors.

For more data from Applaudience, please contact

*Selling Out is considered in this instance to be a screening with 71% or over tickets sold.

How Applaudience work their magic

Using data mining software and sales analysis from the top 10 cinemas chains, Applaudience calculates the remaining seats available per screening, thus providing a reliable forecast of the numbers of tickets sold. Once the advanced ticket sales are calculated, Applaudience can accurately forecast weekend box office revenues.

As the Endgame for the Avengers approaches audiences pack cinemas

Thanks to the team at Applaudience you are able to see in real-time which screenings in the UK are already selling out. As of 10.30am today, 188 screenings across the UK are already sold out with another 675 are listed as 'Selling Out’ (71% of tickets sold) which means Endgame is on course to dominate at the Box Office.

As it stands, Endgame has sold over 865k tickets so far (for an approx £9.3m pre-sales box office), meaning that 1.3% of the UK population have already bought tickets, despite the film still another two weeks away from release. akes in tickets sold on cinema websites all over the country. Updated by the second it is now possible to track the best performing films from here they can create a model to predict a particular films performance over any given weekend.

Applaudience’s data and insights are beneficial for both distributors and exhibitors, who can adjust their marketing accordingly and work to tackle the 21st century challenge posed by streaming services. As streaming services grow cinemas need to become more attractive again and Applaudience is a can be a key asset to starting this.

Their predicted box office breakdown is below. This weeks top ten is:

1 - Shazam! - £2,700,000 - 2,900,000 (-30%)

2 - Dumbo - £2,400,000 - £2,600,000 (-28%)

3 - Hellboy - £1,300,000 - £1,500,000 (New Entry)

4 - Captain Marvel - £840,000 - £940,000 (-23%)

5 - Pet Sematary - £790,000 - £890,000 (-46%)

6 - Wonder Park - £775,000 - £875,000 (New Entry)

7 - Wild Rose - £760,000 - £860,000 (New Entry)

8 - Us - £510,000 - £610,000 (-40%)

9 - Peppa Pig: Festival of Fun - £490,000 - £590,000 (-45%)

10 - Missing Link - £480,000 - £580,000 (-18%)


Welcome to ChewBoy Productions

"ChewBoy creates surrealist comedy work which aims to give you something to chew on long after you’ve experienced it; and each piece is left open enough for audience interpretation, so that no two people come away with the same experience."

ChewBoy Productions is a company born of both passion and drive to create and entertain. The brain child of two friends Georgie and Hal who both have strong back grounds within the creative industries, particularly theatre. Their backgrounds feed into their artistic approach to stoytelling "ChewBoy Productions was established in February 2018, when we had to create a company to enter the Camden Fringe with our play EUAN that we’d been knocking around ideas with for a few months. We spent many a night around a kitchen or pub table working through ideas of what we wanted to do with the company and what name would surmise it".

The pair have a particular approach to how and where they want their company to progress "We are a multi-arts company specialising in theatre, film and working with emerging artists. Each project is unique in that we work with brand new creatives each time around who have expertise in different areas; blending the mix of art forms through digital, visual arts, performance and film.  Our main aim is to work with as many different emerging artists as possible, and to eventually blend different art forms e.g. digital into theatre."

Audiences appreciation and entertainment is central to the aims of this budding company and as they grow so does the confidence in what they are doing which impacts positivly on the audiences watching "On the whole, we want people to enjoy themselves and forget about the world outside and everything that’s happening. Simultaneously, we want to give people self-reflection time, and time to mull over the work they’ve just seen; realising the relevancy to their own lives. Ultimately, across all our work, we want people to be invested in our stories and characters by seeing something of themselves within them. And, as always, we want no two people to come away with the same idea of what they’ve witnessed – making each experience entirely unique". Their passion shines through positivly through their work and it reflects well as it becomes a staple in creating an escape for audiences making them more willing to buy into what they are watching.

One of the most admirable thing the company has going for them is their bravery. Often artists can lack the confidence to persue certain avenues for their work and it can create missed opportunities "Our inspirations change depending on what art form we’re working in for each project, and we draw our plans up based on who we admire the work of in that particular area. For film, and particularly for this trilogy, we’re definitely mostly inspired by the surrealist styles of David Lynch and Steve Pemberton/Reece Shearsmith – bordering on the line between comedy and darkly abstract. We’d also have to say that for TPT we’ve taken a great deal of tips from The Mighty Boosh in our thinking and planning; conjuring up something, debating whether it should go in, then putting it in anyway to experiment".

Passion is the key driving force behind succeeding in any industry and with passion comes enjoyment too. ChewBoy is driven by the bond of the people behind it "For us, the process of creating films from idea conception right through to the viewing experience is incredibly enjoyable to us. We absolutely love planning ideas from one little spark and then fleshing them out to full and whole stories and characters. Filming days are also incredible, as we have a relaxed and informal approach to our work, taking pressures of our actors an creatives to allow them the room to explore and be free to experiment; meaning we all get the most out of their time and the best possible performance on the day. As a pair, we also love playing around with how audiences interact with films, and, as you’ll see with this trilogy, we’ve had a lot of fun with deciding how they’ll engage with the work."

On the verge of their latest work 'The Process Trilogy' ChewBoy Productions are a company growing in both stature and confidence. You have to respect the team behind it as they were driven by a love for the arts and a passion to entertain.

ChewBoy Productions present 'The Process Trilogy'

ChewBoy Productions upcoming project book tickets now

Eaten By Lions in cinemas now. Director Jason Wingard talks about the film and the long journey from page to screen

Interview with Co-writer and director Jason Wingard

Interview with Eaten By Lions star Antonio Aakeel

Antonio Aakeel disscusses his role as Omar in Eaten By Lions

'Eaten By Lions' in cinemas March 29th

Top 5 'fanatic' ways to celebrate the legendary film ALIEN on its 40th Anniversary

1. It’s long been enjoyed to get constant reminders of happiness and hope tattooed, however these people took that in a different direction. It can’t be denied that they are horrifyingly good portraits. (

2. You’d have to have no emotions to not enjoy a good photo of a baby dressed up but we will completely understand if you’d never been tempted to add one of the top loved horrific moments of cinema onto your baby’s chest (we kind of love it). (

3. On what is meant to be the greatest day of your life, how else would you want to celebrate than to remind people of a relentless monster that wants to destroy humanity…each to their own we guess but we approve of this one. (

4. Admittedly, having seen the film and knowing the fate of the characters it’s hard to imagine much else than the carnage that ensues but it’s an interesting idea with a strange result. (

5. It has become a special event to publicly announce a pregnancy and people have come up with very inventive ways but did you ever think to use a Chestburster? Probably not but the results are amazing, although we’d hope raising this little one wasn’t as dangerous as the film! (https://www.columbi

Witness ALIEN in an all new 4k restoration on its 40th Anniversary from March 1st

ALIEN is arguably Ridley Scott's best film ever. From his haunting use of sound, choosing to show the films central monsters very sparingly instead building tension by allowing the audiences to create their own anticipation, to the infamous chest burster scene ALIEN has become a landmark film in both horror and cinema as a whole. Restored in all new 4k to celebrate the 40th anniversary revisit ALIEN and witness a film like no other. 








ALIEN by numbers:


273 Cinemas – That’s how many cinemas will be showing Alien’s 4K restoration and re-release in cinemas from 1st March


the number of words it took to sell the script: “Jaws in space”


3 hours 12 minutes the length of the original cut of the film


the number of cats playing Jonesy in the film


4 minutes the screen time of the Xenomorph


the number of directors considered before Ridley Scott


7 foot 2 The height of Bolaji Badejo in his one and only role playing the titular monster


26 the number in feet of the height of the Space Jockey prop


130 The number of prop Alien eggs made


$ 38,461 The average made per cinema by Alien on opening weekend in 1979, totalling $3.5 million


$ 4.2 million The original budget of the film, which was doubled after Ridley Scott storyboarded his ideas


26 - Alien is a member of the exclusive club of only 26 horror films that have ever won an Oscar

ALIEN 4K restoration in cinemas from March 1st

Landmark film ALIEN returns to cinemas in an all new 4K restoration on its 40th anniversary

ALIEN still stands as a landmark film even as it approaches its 40th anniversary. From March 1st an all new 4K restoration of the classic sci-fi horror will hit selected cinemas throughout the UK.

From legendary director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Blade Runner) and starring Sigourney Weaver the film spawned five sequels and two crossover films as well as a number of comic books and games etc but nothing came close to matching Scott's original. Central to the film are the Alien creatures created by HR Giger, nothing had ever been seen like this before and the team of Giger and Scott created a film that has stood the test of time and to this day is considered among the best films ever made. With elements of horror and sci-fi and with the tension of a Hitchcock film it stands as Scott's best film to date.

John Hurt is the man to watch here as he plays out in the films most pivotal scenes.

4k is the best visual clarity and adds new depth to the legendary film and whether your a first time viewer or a returning viewer this is an experience you will not want to miss.


ALIEN returns to cinemas from March 1st at selected cinemas (see local listings)

ALIEN returns to selected cinemas in an all new 4k restoration from March 1st

ALIEN returns to cinema on its 40th anniversary in a new 4K restoration

Ridley Scott's landmark film returns to the big screen for its 40th anniversary

EATEN BY LIONS will be released in UK cinemas 29th March 2019 #EatenbyLions


EATEN BY LIONS In UK Cinemas 29th March 

Winner of the Lebara Play Audience Choice Award at theLondon Indian Film Festival 2018

Starring: Jack Carroll (Trollied), Antonio Aakeel (Tomb Raider), Johnny Vegas (Still Open All Hours), Asim Chaudhry (Black Mirror), Kevin Eldon (Hot Fuzz), Vicki Pepperdine (Getting On), Nitin Ganatra (Bride & Prejudice), Hayley Tamaddon (Coronation Street)


Director Jason Wingard said: “The story is essentially about the importance of family. I wanted the viewer to forget about incidentals such as race or disability and focus on the characters. It’s an attitude we applied to everyone in the film really. The story deals with big contemporary issues (class, diversity, disability, inter-racial relations, foster and adoption, sexuality, love, life and death) in a sharp and often irreverent way. A comedy with heart without skimping on laughs.”

Johnny Vegas said: “It’s a very relatable story about searching for we all do, and the realisation that what you think you’re looking is often right in front of you.”

Jack Carroll said: "I loved the warm, yet still cutting-edge nature of the comedy, the expertly drawn characters and the positive message at the heart of the story. I'm playing a sarcastic, semi-annoying disabled teenager. This role was a huge stretch for me."


Q&A with writer and director Jason Wingard


Q -How did Eaten By Lions become a feature film?




Q -What is the film about?










Director Ari Gold said: "I wanted to make a movie about America's secret class struggle, and how our nostalgia for the past can be both intoxicating and toxic. There's nothing more potent than music to trigger longing - for our own past, as well as for the seemingly perfect lives of others. I was thrilled to work with performers and musicians from both side of the pond, who understood that we have to taste the romantic dream - at least once! - in order to wake into the sway of real life."


From director Ari Gold (Adventures of Power) comes the award winning 'The Song of Sway Lake' starring Rory Culkin and Robert Sheehan. The story takes place one summer on Sway Lake, former playground of the jazz-age New York aristocracy. Young music collector Ollie Sway (Rory Culkin) recruits his only friend, a homeless Russian drifter (Robert Sheehan), to help him steal a one-of-a-kind vintage record from his own family's glamorous estate. Ollie believes the secret recording of the WW2-era hit, "Sway Lake," will redeem his father, who committed suicide there. But the arrival of Ollie's aristocratic grandmother, Charlie Sway (Mary Beth Peil), changes everything. The matriarch transfixes the class-conscious young Russian, while she sees in him the glory of her youth. And the mysterious song, which hasn’t been heard in half a century, may answer the deepest riddles about love and death, for whichever lost soul is first to find it.

Endearing and often disturbing the film explores the dynamic of a mismatched family torn by loss and tragedy but driven by a passion of music. Culkin is a smart lead who carries the films emotional narrative with grace. Key to the films appeal is the relatable nature they have and Culkin carries an emotional balance in a film that at times can be slow but is saved by the endearing nature the musical element brings. Culkin has become somewhat of an indie darling starring in films like 'Mean Creek' (2004) but also mixing it in bigger films like 'Scream 4' (2011), but he is in some ways underrated and not appreciated for what he can bring to a film.

Robert Sheehan gives an off the wall performance and plays well with Culkin as the two show good chemistry and play off each other. Playing a sort of emotional anchor in the narrative, Sheehan connects the characters on all levels but also offering a comedic element as well as being the trigger for the narrative twists and turns. 

Director Ari Gold paints cinematic tapestrys with his films and always maintains an emotional connection through music. A far cry from his first feature 'Adventures of Power' (2008), Sway Lake feels like Gold is maturing as a film maker handling this emotionally driven story with care and consideration while also maintaing his continually evolving visual artistry. 

 Featuring a sparkling soundtrack of classic and original songs, THE SONG OF SWAY LAKE also stars Tony-nominated Mary Beth Peil (The Good Wife, Collateral Beauty), Isabelle McNally (Bates Motel, Flirting with Love), Elizabeth Peña (Rush Hour, The Incredibles) and Jack Falahee (How to Get Away with Murder, Mercy Street). The New York Times called THE SONG OF SWAY LAKE “Offbeat, continually intriguing.”





2018 has been a strong year for documentaries

Documentaries are rapidly becoming a staple in the cinematic landscape. Where they were once restricted to the small screen they have rapidy evolved to carry a larger scope. From 'Going Clear: Scientology and the prison of belief' to 'Beware the Slenderman they are developing narratives as a way to inform. At times the larger scopes have also been used to change social issues in the world like  Gabriela Cowperthwaite's 'Blackfish' which had a major impact on Seaworld and their handling of killer whales.

2018 has been a good year for documentaries with a number of them begining to find a more mainstream audience.

To celebrate the release of Jonathan Hacker's 'Path of Blood', available on DVD from the 10th of December I look at other documentary highlights from the past year.

PATH OF BLOOD Director- Jonathan Hacker

A vicious look at the inner workings of Al Qaeda. Young "thrill seekers" attending a Jihadi boot camp deep in the Saudi desert as they develop a violent plan to overthrow the Saudi government.

NAE PASARAN Director-  Felipe Bustos Sierra

The unlikely story of a group of scottish pensioners who during the 70's took a stand against the repressive Chilean regime under General Pinochet and all from a Rolls Royce factory in East Kilbride which is gripping as years later they come to the realisation of the concequences of their actions.

McQUEEN Director-  Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui

A look at the life and times of designer  Lee Alexander McQueen from his start as a tailor to his rise to fame and his untimely death.

FREE SOLO Director-  Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

Alex Honnold attempts to fulfill a lifelong ambition of free climbing El Capitan, a 3000 foot rock in Yosemite national park, a feet of both daring and endurance.


A local professor makes an unprecidented discovery which looks to change the landscape of the fishing heritage which is seen as a way of life on the islands and has a major impact on the residents.



MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. Director-  Steve Loveridge

An intamate look at the inner workings of artist M.I.A. Pulled together from over 700 hours of her personal home videos.

EVELYN Director- Orlando von Einsiedel

Director Von Einsiedel named the documentary after his brother who at 22 commited suicide after an intense state of depression and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Einsiedel and his family retrace walks in the british countryside his brother loved as a way of handling the loss.

WHITNEY Director-  Kevin Macdonald

An eye opening insight into the life of Whitney Houston. Beautiful but at times disturbing.

SHIRKERS Director-  Sandi Tan

 In 1992, teenager Sandi Tan, an admitted cinephile, shot Singapore's first road movie with her  American mentor, Georges, who then left with all of the footage. The 16 mm film is recovered 20 years later which offers Tan the opportunity to revisit the film she made when she was seventeen, but never got to see – and to try to understand the man behind its theft.

Documentaries 2018

From the Producer of 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'The Hurt Locker' comes 'Path of Blood' available on DVD December 10th

From acclaimed director Jonathan Hacker comes 'Path of Blood', depicting Islamist terrorism as it has never been seen before. Pieced together from various forms of video footage. The Jihadi footage, captured by Saudi security services, tells the story of Muslim terrorists targeting Muslim civilians. Muslim security agents eventually bringing the terrorists to justice.

'Path of Blood' is a cinematic portrayal of youth and idealism how it can become a powder keg when given incentive. The footage is untouched and offers some deeply disturbing forms of expression while at times testing the audiences belief system and their own viewpoint of the world. Possibly one of the most disturbing elements in this is the viewpoint from a Jihadi boot camp where young thrll seekers agree to over throw the Saudi Government and by any means necessary. A dangerous game plays out as they plan to detonante car bombs in the middle of Riyadh but as government forces close in their tactics turn more brutal as their insious agenda becomes real. 

This is a documentary unlike anything you have ever seen before. Gripping in every sense yet at times unwatchable and is based upon the novel 'Path of Blood' by Jonathan Hacker and Thomas Small.

The film is somewhat of a passion project for Director Jonathan Hacker: 

How did PATH OF BLOOD come about?

Six years ago, our executive producers Adel Alabdulkarim and Abdulrahman Alrashed heard of several hundred hours of captured footage from the Saudi campaign against Al Qaeda. They spent a long time negotiating access to the footage using their contacts with Prince Muhammad bin Nayef who was head of thesecurity services at the time.All together we received around 500 hours of footage, both seized Al Qaeda material and footage the security services had shot themselves. We felt this was an important story that should be shared with a wider audience and the film progressed from there.

PATH OF BLOOD covers Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia from 2003 to 2009. How relevant is the film to current events?

Terrorism has not gone away. It has a potent ideology, and there are always going to be young, vulnerable people who are prone to these kinds of ideas.Just when you think you’ve defeated it in one place, it has an uncanny habit of reappearing in another.We’ve seen this most spectacularly in recent years in the meteoric riseand fall of Isis in Iraq and Syria—which, people should remember, began life as an Al Qaeda franchise, just like AQAP, and in terms of ideology differs only very slightly from the parent organization.At the same time, the temptation is still to de-humanize the phenomenon of Islamist terrorism, to make ill-informed sweeping generalizations, whichcan have a devastating impact on communities both in the West and in the Middle East. This film presents a nuanced, wholly humanizing portrait of both terrorists and the Muslims who are fighting them—a much-needed addition to an increasingly polarizing discussion.

What were your first impressions of the footage you received?

For a few minutes I was concerned about the amateur nature of the footage I was looking at, but then as I watched the footage unfold I saw how astonishingthe imagery was, how fresh itwas, and how intimate it was. We had access behind the scenes with Al Qaeda, with an intimacy that you would never ever have dreamed of seeing.

What was your approach to making the film?

The first challenge was identifying the dramatic tone. That was the first thing –scary, edgy, and intimate. Then it was about creating a clear narrative drive, a kind of cat-and-mouse chase between the security forces and the terrorist cells, with the terrorists trying to cause as much death and destruction as they could,and the security services trying to stop them before they killed any more innocent people. Finally, and most importantly, we wanted to use that narrative to create a nuanced understanding of the ordinary foot soldier in Al Qaeda. We’ve got some funny scenes and then we’ve got scenes of unspeakable cruelty, Al Qaeda killing and shooting innocent people. It’s importantto see that those two things can coexist in the same individual, and I think that’s part of what we were trying to do, to capture that complexity and see the terrorists as ordinary but corrupted human beings. 

Al Qaeda is an emotive subject, how did you tackle this?

One of the other decisions we made relatively early on was to avoid over-editorialising, to let the audience try to understand these men for themselves. This is a difficult and controversial subject and so we made a decision that no commentary would be placed over the footage and in fact to have as little commentary as possible, allowing the scenes to unfold on their own and let youjust be engrossed in the film. We wanted the audience to experience each scene from the point of view of its source, whether that was Al Qaeda, the Saudi security forces or ordinary Saudi citizens, and try to offer the audience that privileged access. By doing this we are able to encourage the audience to have their own personal insights into what Al Qaeda really is.

What is your take on Al Qaeda?

They are a kind of death cult; in fact, that is part of their appeal. They revel in killing and even in their own deaths. The tragicimplications of that are what we are exploring in the film. The huge waste of life –their victims’and their own.

How do you think Muslims will react to the film?

I think that the vast majority of Muslims who see the film will really appreciate it. They’ll point to this film and say, ‘Look, we told you, Muslims are victims of terrorismas much as non-Muslims.’They’ll point out just how simple-minded and ignorant these terroristsare and say, ‘How can you say these peoplerepresent our religion?’What is more, the film makes clear that, in the Middle East –where, the worst and most frequent acts of terrorism occur–the people on the front lines combatting the terrorists are in fact Muslims. Not only their victims, but the people tracking them, fighting them, trying to stop them: they’re all Muslims.We in the West forget this. We know about 9/11, the LondonBombings, the Madrid bombings, and more recently, rogue attacks in Europe and America inspired by Isis–but we don’t really know about the way Middle Easterners themselves are suffering from terrorism.

What were the challenges in making PATH OF BLOOD?

The major practical challenge was that we had 500 hours of footage all in a foreign language, not just in Arabic, but in Saudi Arabian regional dialects, which presented enormous logistical problems –just logging the footage and translating it was a major undertaking. It took a huge amount of work and expertise, and we had a big team of talented guys working on the translation for a very long time.And that was all before we started editing the film –that’s when the real work began. Luckily I was working with a brilliant editor, Peter Haddon.

Why did you choose to narrate extracts of the Al Qaeda magazine ‘Voice of Jihad’?

We were trying to make a film that gives you intimacy with AQ, so that you feel you’re with them in the cells, you’re with them in the safe houses, you’re withthem in the gunfights, and you’re reading what they read. This sense of directness was quite important to us, and with an actor’s voice it becomes invisible, just like a voice in your head.We used Tom Hollander to re-voice Al Qaeda’s propaganda as he’s got a sort of warm yet slightly brittle texture to his voice which makes it engaging and dangerous at the same time.

This film contains some very graphic, gruesome scenes. Why did you choose to include them?

We spent a lot of time discussing where the boundaries should be. Some extremely graphic material was left on the cutting room floor. Also,we were careful to avoid showing the faces of victims murdered by Al Qaeda, although we don’t show that respect to the terrorists themselves.But I decided very early on not to pull any punches. Because these events are all seen in context, I felt that we were duty bound to be honest, even if it meant includingsome unpleasant scenes. It would be irresponsible to turn what Al Qaeda does into some kind of sanitised ‘entertainment.’ The result of their activities is endless bloodshed. Real human beings are being killed including children, and it is incredibly sad and tragic. They’re not a statistic in a news report, they’re not a cut away on the 10 o’clock news, this is something that we let people look at in the film andlet people think about.Those scenes are there to be understood, to show the very real consequences of the actions of Al Qaeda. 

Why do you think the Saudi Arabian government agreed to release this footage?

The Saudi government didn’t tell me why they chose to release it. But I suppose it was because it’s actually one of their great success stories. 9/11 caused a great deal of shame and embarrassment to Saudi Arabia; so many of its citizens had been involved in that act and they were in denial about it for quite a long time.Even more, as we all know, Saudi Arabia has played a large role in the propagation of Islamic fundamentalism around the world—the government recently went public about this, acknowledging their record and signalling a policy shift away from funding extremist madrasas and so on. But really, our film is anobjective andimmersive humanstory of a terrorist campaign at a specific time and place. For Saudis, it came asa hugeshock for them when Al Qaeda declared war on their government and targeted Saudi citizens.I certainly believe that experience jump-started a lot of soul searching in the Kingdom—perhaps we’re seeing the fruit of that now.Much to our surprise, the Saudi security services never asked for or had any input on the final cut of the film. We were only asked to blur the names on a couple offorged passports, plus the faces of certainindividuals for legal reasons.

PATH OFBLOOD features many characters. Who was the most interesting?

There are a lot of interesting characters. You’ve got the larger-than-life sheikh, Abdullah al-Rashoud, who is straight out of central casting. He’s so extreme, he’s so outlandish, that if you created him as a fictionalcharacter, you’d think that he was a cliché but when you see him for real, it’s just incredible –andquite funnytoo,in a dark way. Then you’ve got a guy called Abdulaziz who we openthe film with;‘Ali’was his nom de guerre. He’s a partly sympatheticcharacter in the sense that you can see he is like the class fool:he’s a little bit dim, but cracks all the jokes, and is constantly in trouble with the teacher. But at the same time there’s something very sad about him, it really draws you in when you see his dawning realisation that he is about to die. I think the opening scene, in a sense, represents one of the themes of the film. These really are ordinary guys; they’re not all like the stereotypical image of a thuggish Al Qaeda terrorist. Ali is a clown, yet he’s involved with this organisation, and he’s going to blow up himself and a lot of innocent people. I think that’s very important for people to think about and understand.

What have you learnt about Al Qaeda through making the film?

One of the things that really came across in the footage is the degree of naivety and incompetence that is prevalent among the young Saudi kids in Al Qaeda. There are lots of characters and moments in the film that would not be out of place in a farce. Many of them are relatively incompetent, relatively ignorant, and that was quite a revelation to me. Having said that, this kind of organisation also attracts individuals who are thrilled by the idea of killing and by the power of being a member of a terrorist organisation. So one should be careful of making generalizations.


'Path of Blood' is a must see but is not for the faint hearted.



Path Of Blood is available on DVD December 10th



'Path of Blood' on DVD December 10th

As engrossing as it is disturbing 'Path of Blood' arrives of DVD December 10th

'Gloves Off' star Brad Moore names the sporting comedies that he cant get enough of

With the release of 'Gloves Off' on DVD and on demand co-writer and star Brad Moore discusses his favourite sporting comedies.

Starting with his passion project, Brad takes a look back at the classic sports films over the years that have brought the family together for big laughs and a tug on the heart strings. With Hollywood heavyweights like Bill Murray and John Candy to a star turn from an orangutan From screw ball comedies to heart warming scenes, Moores choices are as varied as they could be.


1. Gloves Off Directed by Steven Nesbit 

“GLOVES OFF is a piece of entertainment but it also represents to me what people can achieve when they pull together and pride kicks in.”


2. Slap Shot Directed by George Roy Hill

“Unlike some, Paul Newman’s performances just got better and better as his career evolved. He again teams up with George Roy Hill in this crazy ice hockey romp. I loved watching this quirky film in my teens and the ‘goons’ unprovoked scraps. Tickled my Dad and I pink!”


3. Every which way but loose Directed by James Fargo

“What a gem of a film with Clint showing he’s more than capable in a dustup. A beautiful backdrop in the San Fernando Valley and with his Mrs Sandra Locke and a huge Orangutan in tow they must have had a blast. Right turn Clyde!”


4. Mike Bassett: England Manager Directed by  Steve Barron

“Our very own Ricky Tomlinson in full swing as the doomed England Manager. It’s not coming home sadly....”


5. Kingpin Directed by  Bobby Farrelly & Peter Farrelly

“The Farrelly brothers at their very best here in this screwball comedy. A fallen hero, a beautiful lady, a road trip, a strange hair do, a final show down (this sound familiar? Oh yeah Gloves Off, the film that I wrote!) Woody Harrelson’s performance takes his career to another level and the hair on Bill Murray should have at least won a BAFTA of its own...”


6. The Mean Machine (a.k.a The Longest Yard) Directed by Robert Aldrich

“Another film worshipped at the church of our family living room. Robert Aldrich of Dirty Dozen and Baby Jane fame directs this priceless prison break American football comedy. The British remake does its best but falls short of the charisma this cracker carries. RIP Burt Reynolds, we owe you one.”


7. Caddyshack Directed by Harold Ramis

“This crazy offbeat golfing extravaganza shouldn't work but it does and then some! It’s directed by none other than Harold Ramis of Ghostbusters and written by Bill Murray’s brother Brian Doyle-Murray, which may go some way to explain the absurdity of the magic!! Bill Murray’s scenes were reportedly all improvised and worth watching just to witness Chevy Chase on the piano "I was born to love you…I was born to lick your face..." genius.”


8. Cool Runnings Directed by Jon Turteltaub

“Based on a true story and with a gloriously high concept! This excellent film starring the late John Candy has you laughing while tugging at the heart strings.”


9. Jerry Maguire Directed by Cameron Crowe

“Cameron Crowe's riches to rags masterpiece featuring, in my opinion, Tom Cruise’s most well-rounded performance worthy of his Oscar nomination. Comedy, romance, drama, sport and our protagonist searching for a deeper purpose in life. What’s not to like! An almost cautionary tale of making sure you don't lose focus of what’s truly important in life, the film works on all levels. Supporting breakthrough roles from both Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr and the birth of a worldwide catchphrase...’Show me the money!’”


10. There's Only One Jimmy Grimble Directed by John Hay

"A lovely example of British football fantasy comedy drama that us Brits do so brilliantly. Robert Carlisle, Ray Winstone, Gina McKee and a killer cameo by Ben Miller”


 GLOVES OFF is available On Demand & DVD now

GLOVES OFF is available On Demand & DVD now


GLOVES OFF is available On Demand & DVD now

Uk Jewish film festival 2018 closes with thrilling gala night award ceremony



Chief Executive of UK Jewish Film, Michael Etherton said: “Innovative approaches to filmmaking were among the stand-out themes of the awards made by this year’s juries at the UK Jewish Film Festival. We were privileged to host these outstanding jurors from across the UK film industry and they were particularly impressed by the quality of the films in competition this year. ‘Three Identical Strangers’ is the extraordinary true story that is already making waves, brilliantly told and expertly crafted; ‘Driver’ takes a gentle and surprising look at a little-known Orthodox community, and ‘Death of a Poetess’ mixes documentary and drama techniques to highly original and disturbing effect.”


With 85 films from 16 countries including 51 premieres the Uk Jewish film festival came to a close on Thursday 22nd November with the closing night gala award ceremony at London's Curzon Mayfair. 

Spread over 21 cinemas ranging from London to Glasgow the festival had everything from highly acclaimed documentary 'John Simons- A modernist' to a restoration of silent classic 'The Cohens and Kellys', the festival catered for all tastes.



The Winners and nominees were:


Dorfman best film award- Supported by the Dorfman Foundation


Three Identical Strangers: Dir. Tim Wardle (WINNER)

The account of Auschwitz: Dir Matthew Shoychet

Foxtrot: Dir. Samuel Maoz

Promise At Dawn: Dir. Eric Barbier

The Waldheim Waltz: Dir. Ruth Beckermann

Working Woman: Dir. Michal Aviad


“Three Identical Strangers is a joy to watch and, like an onion, reveals itself layer upon layer. Both terrific entertainment and a serious and very moving story, the film is cleverly constructed as an unusual mixture of documentary, drama and thriller. The jury was delighted to award the prize to this impressive film.”

Michael Kuhn, Head of Jury, Dorfman Best Film Award 2018, UK Jewish Film Festival


Best Debut Feature Award


Driver: Dir. Yehonatan Indursky (WINNER)

Closeness: Dir. Kantemir Balagov

Doubtful: Dir. Eliran Elya

Outdoors: Dir. Asaf Saban

Red Cow: Dir. Tsivia Barkai

Winter Hunt: Dir. Astrid Schult


"The jury were delighted and impressed by ‘Driver', a beautiful, moving and funny exploration of a father and his daughter and of the moral grey areas he navigates within an orthodox religious community. Powerful and surprising this is the unusual and often raw tale of a man whose job is coaching people to tell their stories but is unable to tell his own.”

Claudia Rosencrantz, Head of Jury, Best Debut Feature Award 2018, UK Jewish Film Festival


Best Screenplay Award


Death of a Poetess by Dana Goldberg and Efrat Mishori (WINNER)

Budapest Noir by Éva Gárdos

Foxtrot by Samuel Maoz

Promise at Dawn by Eric Barbier

To Dust by Shawn Snyder

Winter Hunt by Astrid Schult


“This provocative and intriguing drama, with its naturalistic, quasi-documentary style, hugely impressed the jury. An elliptical portrayal of a deeply troubling story that stays with you long after the film has ended.”

Nik Powell, Head of Jury, Best Screenplay Award, UK Jewish Film Festival


Audience choice Award


Forgotten Soldier: Dir.  Lucile Smith and Paul Goldin



For more information on the festival and future events visit:






Uk Jewish Film Festival 2018

British entertainment at its most original in Steven Nesbit's 'Gloves Off'

“Gloves Off is entertainment but it represents what people can achieve when they pull together and pride kicks in.”

Brad Moore (co-writer/star)


British actor Brad Moore arrived on the acting stage late on in life, "I started acting very late in life at 40 and I had spent my youth addicted to all films”, but he has gone on to carve out a very respectable career working with some highly respected people along the way.


His latest offering is Gloves Off where he re-teams with director Steven Nesbit, the pair had previously collaborated on North Vs South. Gloves Off also marks Moore's first time as a writer, co-writing the script with Nesbit. Speaking about how the project was born and how he came to be co-writer Moore said “We had so much fun making North vs South and the film release was a success so Steve and I became good friends. If it had flopped I’m sure he would have moved on to someone more talented! Steve then came down to London to discuss future projects he was writing with me in mind. We had a few beers and I pitched him the only script idea I have had about a boxer who inherits a debt-ridden gym from his coach and Steve suggested we write the script together”. Moore as a first time writer had his own way of contributing his own ideas “We spent several months meeting up when we could for writing sessions and we would work shop the scenes together. I would act out the different characters as best I could and I think he enjoyed having his very own performing monkey! Steve would then write up the work we had done and we would polish the scenes together. It’s an enjoyable way to write as opposed to slaving over a keyboard and ideas spring from the interaction”.


In Gloves Off Moore plays Doug, a once highly regarded boxer, who inherits a debt riddled gym after the death of his beloved trainer. With his life on the rocks, his family broken, Doug's only happiness is the gym he has and the rag tag loveable misfits that inhabit it. But as debt collectors circle Doug looks for a miracle to save his beloved gym. Moore drew on some of his own personal experiences from his own past the story has both heart mixed with comedic sharpness very much in the vein of Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock films, “ The film is fictional and not biographical in any way, however many of the story elements are very close to my own experiences and deep in my heart. For instance my own boxing coach and mentor "Taffy" died when a group of young boxers and I were still in our prime. I’ve also experienced the pain of being separated from my son and felt the pressure of being totally broke and about to fail miserably...again”.


Alongside Moore is a strong ensemble cast starring some the some of the best known talent Britain has to offer from Paul Barber (Only Fools and Horses/One Night In Istanbul) and Denise Van Outen (Love, Honour and Obey) to British TV legend Ricky Tomlinson (The Royle Family, Mike Bassett: England Manager) but a stand out in this film is comedy great Alexei Sayle. The film has carries the quirkiness of The Full Monty but has the comic sharpness of Snatch but you could also say its Britain's answer to Vince Vaughn/Ben Stiller vehicle Dodgeball (2004). The film is typically British, a comedy with an emotional core with varying characters that represent different aspects of a well written story. Sayle acts as a guardian angel like character to Doug helping him through his emotional struggles, in his own special way. Paul Barber's Albert is a grounding force in Doug's life in an almost father figure like way, inspiring him when he needs it and giving him the confidence boost when he is down, his interactions with Nosher too are particularly heart warming and beautifully acted, Barber works as an emotional anchor to the stories overall narrative. The stories characters are both anarchic as well as relatable harking back to the old school ensemble comedies but never strays from its British roots, Moore added “I love wacky road trip comedies like 'The Cannon Ball Run' and 'Every Which Way but Lose'. These were big influences on the story. I had always dreamt of making something that harked back to these great comedies but with a British heart at its core in the vein of British classics like The Full Monty, Brassed Off and Waking Ned”. There are some stand out scenes in this film like Doug's bar room fight scene, very physical and simply but effectively shot with Moore looking more than comfortable with the demands of the scene. One stand out has to be Tomlinson freestyling folk songs which is something everybody should see.


The film has some beautiful visuals, in particular the flashback fight scenes which are stunning to watch and expertly put together by Nesbit, the film also has a soundtrack which plays well with the narrative acting as an almost extra character in the film. This film is pure entertainment start to finish and you feel that from in front and behind the camera. Far too many films today lack originality and characters you can relate to but Nesbit is a great story teller and alongside Moore has created one of the most entertaining British films of the last few years and it definitely deserves its place alongside British greats like Love Honour and Obey and Full Monty. Central to all of the success of this film is the budding friendship between director and his star and Moore has nothing but praise for Nesbit “Steve is a terrific director. He is ex-military and capable of mobilising an army! He has a universal focus on all elements of the film and he makes actors feel very safe and supported which helps you be courageous with your choices. If I go to big or too heavy he will reel me in. Steve was the first director to believe in me really when he cast me in North vs South. He stuck with me when other well-known actors who joined the project were all keen on my role as Gary Little. The press loved that character as he a proper nut-job much like myself so hopefully I didn’t let him down!”.


Brad Moore leads and all star cast in Gloves Off and has gained experiences he will keep for life “I know it’s a cliché but I just can’t help saying that the fun we had on set was easily the best thing about making this movie. Ricky and Denise kept everyone constantly entertained. They are proper wind up merchants. Denise is always trying to get a rise out of you and Ricky never stops telling funny stories which are incredibly entertaining but I had to avoid him before any of the more dramatic scenes otherwise I would turn up giggling! I’ve loved boxing all my life so working on the boxing and fight scenes were a dream come true! Especially as the stunt men are not actually allowed to hit me back…that’s perfect!”.

Steven Nesbit's 'Gloves Off' starring Brad Moore

Brad Moore leads an all star cast in Steven Nesbit's 'Gloves Off'. You will laugh, cry and feel about every other emotion in this roller coaster of a feel good film

With John Carpenter and Jason Blum behind it and The original stars in front of the camera Halloween is the sequel we have waited forty years for. Credit to director David Gordon Green for a smart and worthy sequel to the classic original.

Now on Twitter

According to him now on Twitter. Chat on film and TV reviews and any and all opinions and contributions are welcome.



As cinema grows so does the technology in it. But is technology a good thing for film? While some films can in ways benefit from tech such as 3D and 4D it bares a better resemblance to a theme park novelty rather than an evolution for film. If a film requires added dimensions to enhance its appeal then you have to consider the story may be lacking. IMAX carries more appeal as it widens the scope for viewing allowing for a larger experience.

A must see film that will grip you start to finish. 'Compliance' is a terrifying story based on true events

Rockwell is a class act. Smart composed performances on screen and a grounded off screen personality. Constantly overlooked as not being a typical A lister but ever reliable.

Much like Rockwell Toni Collette gives constant ever reliable performances and always manages to slip under the radar. With buzz from her latest offering Hereditary Collette is finally getting the well deserved recognition she deserves.

a forgotten classic

Peter Weir directed 'Picnic at hanging rock' a hidden gem and a must for any and all film fans

Free form fight scene

Bourne is what Bond should be

stylish historical film

One of the best films ever made. Stylish, innovative and masterful story telling with under stated powerful performances.

Gorgeous cinematography

A single scene that carries so much.