Directed by Sam Raimi, The Evil Dead was one of the most successful and talked-about horror films of its time, garnering a storm ton of controversy (in the UK, for example, the film was cut and labelled a “Video Nasty” by social activist Mary Whitehouse). It’s unsurprising, then, that nearly two decades later a remake – retitled Evil Dead and advocated by both Raimi and original cult star Bruce Campbell – is making its way to the big screen. Continue reading “Review: Evil Dead (2013)”
Cindy (Jennifer Garner) and Jim (Joel Edgerton) are desperate to be parents. However, when they’re told by their doctor that this won’t happen naturally, they decide to indulge their dreams one final time by burying a box in their back garden filled with all the personality traits their ideal child would bear – kind, honest to a fault and musical, to name a few. Overnight, a magical storm occurs and Timothy (CJ Adams), a young boy with leaves on his ankles, is thrust into Cindy and Jim’s life. Continue reading “Review: The Odd Life Of Timothy Green (2012)”
Though G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra was considered by many to be a complete and utter write-off, it also had a cartoonish and flippant sensibility that resulted in a decent box office haul, making its sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, inevitable. The sequel, however, which finds new director Jon M. Chu and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick attempt to overhaul the series, loses that camp buffoonery and replaces it with an all-too serious military realism that’s sluggish and irritating. Continue reading “Review: G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)”
After turning his attention to curating the illuminating London Olympics opening ceremony over the summer months, acclaimed BAFTA award-winning director Danny Boyle returns to his cinematic home with his latest feature effort Trance: a hypnotic and delirious, yet overstuffed and often baffling psychological crime thriller that sees him work from a script co-written by regular screenwriter John Hodge and new recruit Joe Ahearne. Continue reading “Review: Trance (2013)”
It’s been a bumpy ride for DreamWorks Animation since its conception in the mid-90s. For every good film they released (Antz and Chicken Run), innumerable mediocre films followed (Shark Tale and Bee Movie). In recent years though, with the success of both the Shrek and Madagascar franchises and How To Train Your Dragon, they’ve displayed what they’re truly capable of. With their recent release The Croods, however, it seems as though they’ve misplaced some of that spark. Continue reading “Review: The Croods (2013)”
Last year’s Horrible Bosses was something of a mixed bag: a comedy that hoped to capitalise on Bridesmaids’ recent success but, despite an interesting premise and some enthusiastic performances, didn’t quite reach its full potential. In many ways, the same can be said for director Seth Gordon’s follow-up, Identity Thief, only this time there’s far less fun to be had. Continue reading “Review: Identity Thief (2013)”
British-born writer and director Eran Creevy broke onto the scene with the BAFTA-nominated crime thriller Shifty. His follow-up Welcome To The Punch, however, provides him with a better canvass to showcase his skills and, despite an overriding sense that style has been favoured over substance, proves to be a decent success, particularly in showing how much can be achieved on a slim budget. Continue reading “Review: Welcome To The Punch (2013)”
Frank Khalfoun’s Maniac is a rare breed: a remake that’s arguably better than the original. That’s not to undermine William Lustig’s version which had to battle being swept under the carpet by the BBFC, rather that Khalfoun’s re-imagining – passed uncut, for the record – benefits somewhat from the timing in which it’s released, a bold shooting style that puts the audience into an uncomfortable position and a terrifying performance from Elijah Wood, who takes over from Joe Spinell as the lead. Continue reading “Review: Maniac (2013)”
Adapted from his own six-year-old short film, writer and director Scott Graham’s directorial debut Shell is a quiet piece that pits its two main characters – father and daughter Pete (Joseph Mawle) and Shell (Chloe Pirrie) – against the beautiful, yet harsh and lonely backdrop of the Scottish Highlands and observes how they live, interact and survive the difficult environment that envelopes them. Continue reading “Review: Shell (2013)”
Renowned world over by critics and audiences alike for his Vengeance trilogy (Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Sympathy For Lady Vengeance), Korean director Park Chan-Wook makes his English language debut with Stoker, a brooding psychological thriller rooted deep in the gothic. It’s written by Prison Break alum Wentworth Miller and boasts many of its directors trademarks: ravishing visuals, strong performances and a deluge of tainted motifs. Continue reading “Review: Stoker (2013)”
Empty Screens 