Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Jacqueline Bisset, Paul Calderon, Paul Hipp, Shanyn Leigh, Amy Ferguson, Drena De Niro, Ronald Guttman | Written by Abel Ferrara, Christ Zois | Directed by Abel Ferrara
Review by Andrew McArthur
Abel Ferrara‘s latest work Welcome to New York is a film so unflinching in its portrait of excess and moral-corruption that it makes The Wolf of Wall Street look like it was produced by Cbeebies.
Devereaux (Gerard Depardieu), one of the world’s most powerful businessmen is filled with a gratuitous sexual hunger – a man so entangled in his lifestyle of power, sex and money that he believes everything is his. This is until Deveraux sexually assaults a hotel maid in New York and finds himself arrested, on the verge of being stripped of this power. Ferrara uses the high-profile case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn as his factual basis for this slow-burning piece filled with excess and debauchery.
Review by Andrew McArthur
Abel Ferrara‘s latest work Welcome to New York is a film so unflinching in its portrait of excess and moral-corruption that it makes The Wolf of Wall Street look like it was produced by Cbeebies.
Devereaux (Gerard Depardieu), one of the world’s most powerful businessmen is filled with a gratuitous sexual hunger – a man so entangled in his lifestyle of power, sex and money that he believes everything is his. This is until Deveraux sexually assaults a hotel maid in New York and finds himself arrested, on the verge of being stripped of this power. Ferrara uses the high-profile case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn as his factual basis for this slow-burning piece filled with excess and debauchery.
- 10/19/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Emily Foxler, Maury Sterling, Nicholas Brendon, Lorene Scafaria, Elizabeth Gracen, Alex Manugian, Lauren Maher, Hugo Armstrong | Written and Directed by James Ward Byrkit
Review by Andrew McArthur
One of the surprise treats of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival is low-key sci-fi thriller, Coherence: the sort of film where walking in with no expectations is the best way to approach things (but please do keep reading this review).
James Ward Byrkit‘s feature follows a group of old friends whose dinner party is cut short by a power outage, thought to have been caused by the passing of a comet that night. Part of the group ventures across the street to the one remaining house with power where they discover the full psychological horror of their predicament.
Due to the unexpected narrative direction of Brykit’s screenplay it would be unfair to go into the detail...
Review by Andrew McArthur
One of the surprise treats of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival is low-key sci-fi thriller, Coherence: the sort of film where walking in with no expectations is the best way to approach things (but please do keep reading this review).
James Ward Byrkit‘s feature follows a group of old friends whose dinner party is cut short by a power outage, thought to have been caused by the passing of a comet that night. Part of the group ventures across the street to the one remaining house with power where they discover the full psychological horror of their predicament.
Due to the unexpected narrative direction of Brykit’s screenplay it would be unfair to go into the detail...
- 7/5/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Peter Ferdinando, Stephen Graham ,Neil Maskell, Richard Domer, Myanna Burring | Written and Directed by Gerard Johnson
Review by Andrew McArthur
In the past years the Edinburgh International Film Festival has been opened by some excellent features (William Friedkin’s Killer Joe) and some less exciting fare (Breathe In). Settling somewhere towards the latter of these two extremes is the 2014 opener, British crime thriller, Hyena.
Gerald Johnson (2009′s Tony) writes and directs Hyena which follows corrupt cop Michael (Peter Ferdinando) who leads a special task-force that tackles London’s biggest drug traffickers. Michael turns a blind eye against the illegal activity of the Turkish and Albanian criminal community of the city, however the reappearance of an old colleague from his past threatens to expose he and his unit’s corruption.
From its opening the visceral style of Hyena hits like a sledgehammer. We see Michael and his crew in a silent,...
Review by Andrew McArthur
In the past years the Edinburgh International Film Festival has been opened by some excellent features (William Friedkin’s Killer Joe) and some less exciting fare (Breathe In). Settling somewhere towards the latter of these two extremes is the 2014 opener, British crime thriller, Hyena.
Gerald Johnson (2009′s Tony) writes and directs Hyena which follows corrupt cop Michael (Peter Ferdinando) who leads a special task-force that tackles London’s biggest drug traffickers. Michael turns a blind eye against the illegal activity of the Turkish and Albanian criminal community of the city, however the reappearance of an old colleague from his past threatens to expose he and his unit’s corruption.
From its opening the visceral style of Hyena hits like a sledgehammer. We see Michael and his crew in a silent,...
- 7/5/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Rose Leslie, Harry Treadaway, Ben Huber, Hanna Brown | Written by Leigh Jeniak, Phil Graziadei | Directed by Leigh Jeniak
Review by Andrew McArthur
I approached my final horror of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival with some trepidation as it has been a very mixed year for the genre. The Green Inferno was an outstanding update of the cannibal film, whilst Let Us Prey and Scintillahave been drab generic British horrors. Fortunately, Leigh Jeniak’s relatively impressive Honeymoon leans more towards the former of these films.
Honeymoon follows a newlywed couple Bea (Rose Leslie) and Paul (Harry Treadaway) honeymooning in an old cabin in isolated Canada. Their initial romance soon begins to fade as strange occurrences begin and Bea starts acting mysteriously towards Paul.
Jeniak’s narrative is packed with intrigue and unease: we see the initial loved up couple romantically enjoying their honeymoon, yet gradually grow to almost...
Review by Andrew McArthur
I approached my final horror of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival with some trepidation as it has been a very mixed year for the genre. The Green Inferno was an outstanding update of the cannibal film, whilst Let Us Prey and Scintillahave been drab generic British horrors. Fortunately, Leigh Jeniak’s relatively impressive Honeymoon leans more towards the former of these films.
Honeymoon follows a newlywed couple Bea (Rose Leslie) and Paul (Harry Treadaway) honeymooning in an old cabin in isolated Canada. Their initial romance soon begins to fade as strange occurrences begin and Bea starts acting mysteriously towards Paul.
Jeniak’s narrative is packed with intrigue and unease: we see the initial loved up couple romantically enjoying their honeymoon, yet gradually grow to almost...
- 7/4/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: John Lynch, Craig Conway, Antonia Thomas, Jumayan Hunter, Morjana Alaoui, Beth Winslet | Written by Steve Clark, Josh Golga, Rob Green, Billy O’Brien, G.P. Taylor | Directed by Billy O’Brien
Review by Andrew McArthur
British horror is not particularly good at hitting the middle ground – it normally finds itself at either extreme end of the quality spectrum: from painfully awful to groundbreakingly brilliant. Sitting comfortably at the low-end of this spectrum is sci-fi horror Scintilla.
Scintilla follows a group of mercenaries tasked with infiltrating a subterranean military research facility. However, there they uncover far more gruesome horrors than they were expecting.
Three ingredients which normally make a good sci-fi or horror film are tension, scares or disturbing imagery, and at the very least a self-aware humour. If one of these factors is missing, proceedings are usually redeemable thanks to either of the other two. I can’t count the...
Review by Andrew McArthur
British horror is not particularly good at hitting the middle ground – it normally finds itself at either extreme end of the quality spectrum: from painfully awful to groundbreakingly brilliant. Sitting comfortably at the low-end of this spectrum is sci-fi horror Scintilla.
Scintilla follows a group of mercenaries tasked with infiltrating a subterranean military research facility. However, there they uncover far more gruesome horrors than they were expecting.
Three ingredients which normally make a good sci-fi or horror film are tension, scares or disturbing imagery, and at the very least a self-aware humour. If one of these factors is missing, proceedings are usually redeemable thanks to either of the other two. I can’t count the...
- 7/4/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Liam Cunningham ,Pollyanna McIntosh, Sophie Stephanie Farmer, Niall Greig Fulton | Written by David Cairns, Fiona Watson | Directed by Brian O’Malley
Review by Andrew McArthur
Despite a promising opening and some interesting thematic concepts, Scottish horror Let Us Prey quickly goes off the rails veering into sloppy bog-standard genre territory.
Brian O’Malley’s feature sees the workings of a small Inveree police station flipped upside down when a mysterious figure (Liam Cunningham) arrives bringing madness and bloodshed with him.
The rich Gothic opening sees the a figure in a long cloak standing beside roaring waves and masses of shrieking crows. Initially reminiscent of Hitchcock’s The Birds, Let Us Prey is a film that wears its influences on its sleeve with hints of Assault on Precinct 13 and The Silence of the Lambs all suggested, yet sadly this is a film that pales in comparison to these features.
Review by Andrew McArthur
Despite a promising opening and some interesting thematic concepts, Scottish horror Let Us Prey quickly goes off the rails veering into sloppy bog-standard genre territory.
Brian O’Malley’s feature sees the workings of a small Inveree police station flipped upside down when a mysterious figure (Liam Cunningham) arrives bringing madness and bloodshed with him.
The rich Gothic opening sees the a figure in a long cloak standing beside roaring waves and masses of shrieking crows. Initially reminiscent of Hitchcock’s The Birds, Let Us Prey is a film that wears its influences on its sleeve with hints of Assault on Precinct 13 and The Silence of the Lambs all suggested, yet sadly this is a film that pales in comparison to these features.
- 7/4/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Noel Clarke, Ian Somerhalder, Luke Hemsworth, Brian Cox, Alexis Knapp, Niall Greig Fulton, Michael Bisping, Ali Cook, Art Parkinson, Reuben Dabrow, Victoria Broom | Written by Simon Lewis | Directed by Noel Clarke
Review by Andrew McArthur
Noel Clarke‘s third directorial feature sees him in front of the cameras once again in science-fiction action piece, The Anomaly.
Set in the future, a former-soldier Ryan (Clarke) wakes up holding a young boy captive, with no memory of how he got there. After nine minutes forty-seven seconds, he blacks out waking up several days later in a new location with a mysterious figure (Ian Somerhalder), until blacking out again. In these brief moments of consciousness it is up to Ryan to piece together his surroundings, until he gradually discovers a wider conspiracy featuring bio-technology and mind control.
The Anomaly is reminiscent of these late eighties/early nineties sci-fi actioners like Timecop and Demolition Man.
Review by Andrew McArthur
Noel Clarke‘s third directorial feature sees him in front of the cameras once again in science-fiction action piece, The Anomaly.
Set in the future, a former-soldier Ryan (Clarke) wakes up holding a young boy captive, with no memory of how he got there. After nine minutes forty-seven seconds, he blacks out waking up several days later in a new location with a mysterious figure (Ian Somerhalder), until blacking out again. In these brief moments of consciousness it is up to Ryan to piece together his surroundings, until he gradually discovers a wider conspiracy featuring bio-technology and mind control.
The Anomaly is reminiscent of these late eighties/early nineties sci-fi actioners like Timecop and Demolition Man.
- 7/4/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Jacqueline Bisset, Paul Calderon, Paul Hipp, Shanyn Leigh, Amy Ferguson, Drena De Niro, Ronald Guttman | Written by Abel Ferrara, Christ Zois | Directed by Abel Ferrara
Review by Andrew McArthur
Abel Ferrara‘s latest work Welcome to New York is a film so unflinching in its portrait of excess and moral-corruption that it makes The Wolf of Wall Street look like it was produced by Cbeebies.
Devereaux (Gerard Depardieu), one of the world’s most powerful businessmen is filled with a gratuitous sexual hunger – a man so entangled in his lifestyle of power, sex and money that he believes everything is his. This is until Deveraux sexually assaults a hotel maid in New York and finds himself arrested, on the verge of being stripped of this power. Ferrara uses the high-profile case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn as his factual basis for this slow-burning piece filled with excess and debauchery.
Review by Andrew McArthur
Abel Ferrara‘s latest work Welcome to New York is a film so unflinching in its portrait of excess and moral-corruption that it makes The Wolf of Wall Street look like it was produced by Cbeebies.
Devereaux (Gerard Depardieu), one of the world’s most powerful businessmen is filled with a gratuitous sexual hunger – a man so entangled in his lifestyle of power, sex and money that he believes everything is his. This is until Deveraux sexually assaults a hotel maid in New York and finds himself arrested, on the verge of being stripped of this power. Ferrara uses the high-profile case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn as his factual basis for this slow-burning piece filled with excess and debauchery.
- 7/3/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Daryl Sabara, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Sky Ferreira | Written by Eli Roth, Guillermo Amoedo | Directed by Eli Roth
Review by Andrew McArthur
Eli Roth continues to prove that he is quickly becoming a titan in the horror genre with his first directorial feature film in six years, The Green Inferno.
Paying homage to much-missed Cannibal-horror film (see Cannibal Holocaust, Man From Deep River, Eaten Alive!), The Green Inferno follows a group of college students who become stranded in the Amazon after their plane crashes when returning from a successful protest. The survivors soon find themselves imprisoned by a local tribe with a taste for human flesh.
Like all good horror films should be, The Green Inferno is nerve-shreddingly tense, packed with a foreboding atmosphere of dread, and is in equal parts visually grotesque and gorgeous. Whilst this lovingly pays tribute to the cannibal film, Roth breathes...
Review by Andrew McArthur
Eli Roth continues to prove that he is quickly becoming a titan in the horror genre with his first directorial feature film in six years, The Green Inferno.
Paying homage to much-missed Cannibal-horror film (see Cannibal Holocaust, Man From Deep River, Eaten Alive!), The Green Inferno follows a group of college students who become stranded in the Amazon after their plane crashes when returning from a successful protest. The survivors soon find themselves imprisoned by a local tribe with a taste for human flesh.
Like all good horror films should be, The Green Inferno is nerve-shreddingly tense, packed with a foreboding atmosphere of dread, and is in equal parts visually grotesque and gorgeous. Whilst this lovingly pays tribute to the cannibal film, Roth breathes...
- 7/3/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Dane DeHaan, Audrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Anna Kendrick, Jim O’Heir, Paul Reiser, Matthew Gray Gubler, Garry Marshall | Written and Directed by Jeff Baena
Review by Andrew McArthur
If like me zombie themed romantic comedy Warm Bodies left you as cold as one of the undead stiffs themselves, then Life After Beth is the perfect antidote. The film received its UK premiere at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival and proved itself to be a laugh-filled delight.
Jeff Baena’s Life After Beth follows broken-hearted Zach (Dane DeHaan), distraught after the sudden death of his girlfriend Beth (Audrey Plaza). However, much to the delight of Zach and his former-girlfriend’s parents (John C. Reilly & Molly Shannon), Beth miraculously returns from the dead but gradually becomes more aggressive and er… zombified.
Life After Beth is refreshing as it does not try and present itself...
Review by Andrew McArthur
If like me zombie themed romantic comedy Warm Bodies left you as cold as one of the undead stiffs themselves, then Life After Beth is the perfect antidote. The film received its UK premiere at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival and proved itself to be a laugh-filled delight.
Jeff Baena’s Life After Beth follows broken-hearted Zach (Dane DeHaan), distraught after the sudden death of his girlfriend Beth (Audrey Plaza). However, much to the delight of Zach and his former-girlfriend’s parents (John C. Reilly & Molly Shannon), Beth miraculously returns from the dead but gradually becomes more aggressive and er… zombified.
Life After Beth is refreshing as it does not try and present itself...
- 7/3/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Simon Helberg, Melanie Lynskey, Maggie Grace, Zachary Quinto, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Cantor, Gioianna Digiorgio, Dana Ivey, Judith Light | Written by Simon Helberg | Directed by Jocelyn Towne, Simon Helberg
Review by Andrew McArthur
Joined by his wife Jocelyn Towne, The Big Bang Theory‘s Simon Helberg turns director with autobiographical romantic comedy We’ll Never Have Paris. Helberg supposedly bases his film on a true story, making this charmless and aimless picture all the more tragic.
Neurotic thirty-something Quinn (Helberg) is planning on popping the question to his girlfriend of ten years Devon (Melanie Lynskey), until his colleague (Maggie Grace) confesses her love for him. This new found revelation results in the nervous Quinn botching his proposal and breaking-up with Devon. However, he realises he has made a huge mistake and attempts to win her back.
We’ll Never Have Paris is a romantic comedy with no focus, a film...
Review by Andrew McArthur
Joined by his wife Jocelyn Towne, The Big Bang Theory‘s Simon Helberg turns director with autobiographical romantic comedy We’ll Never Have Paris. Helberg supposedly bases his film on a true story, making this charmless and aimless picture all the more tragic.
Neurotic thirty-something Quinn (Helberg) is planning on popping the question to his girlfriend of ten years Devon (Melanie Lynskey), until his colleague (Maggie Grace) confesses her love for him. This new found revelation results in the nervous Quinn botching his proposal and breaking-up with Devon. However, he realises he has made a huge mistake and attempts to win her back.
We’ll Never Have Paris is a romantic comedy with no focus, a film...
- 7/2/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Stars: Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins, Deke Garner, Dalton Sutton, Camron Owens, Dylan Cole, Jonny Mars, Walt Roberts, Annalee Jefferies | Written and Directed by Kat Candler
Review by Andrew McArthur
Kat Candler’s Hellion boasts some strong performances but ultimately feels like an amalgamation of various indie tropes that never quite hit the right emotional spot.
Texas-set Hellion follows widowed single father Hollis (Aaron Paul) who finds himself on the verge of losing his two sons to Child Protection Services after eldest son Jacob’s (Josh Wiggins) unruly behaviour attracts the attention of the police.
It seems that films revelling in Southern miserablism are all the rage recently with Mud, Joe and The Devil’s Knot all looking at the hard lives of the vulnerable people in the South of the USA. Perhaps the reason I draw this comparison is because Hellion shares so much in common with these...
Review by Andrew McArthur
Kat Candler’s Hellion boasts some strong performances but ultimately feels like an amalgamation of various indie tropes that never quite hit the right emotional spot.
Texas-set Hellion follows widowed single father Hollis (Aaron Paul) who finds himself on the verge of losing his two sons to Child Protection Services after eldest son Jacob’s (Josh Wiggins) unruly behaviour attracts the attention of the police.
It seems that films revelling in Southern miserablism are all the rage recently with Mud, Joe and The Devil’s Knot all looking at the hard lives of the vulnerable people in the South of the USA. Perhaps the reason I draw this comparison is because Hellion shares so much in common with these...
- 7/2/2014
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Brake
Review by Andrew McArthur
Stars: Stephen Dorff, Chyler Leigh, Jr Bourne, Tom Berenger, Kali Rocha, Pruitt Taylor Vince | Written by Timothy Mannion | Directed by Gabe Torres
Stephen Dorff stars in Gabe Torres’ claustrophobic thriller, Brake, which proves to be far more than another Buried. After recieving its UK premiere at this years’ Edinburgh International Film Festival, Brake hits DVD and Blu-ray next week, providing some highly entertaining B-Movie thrills alongside another stellar performance from Dorff.
Secret Service agent, Jeremy Reins (Dorff) wakes up trapped in the boot (or trunk, for the non-Brits) of a car, with no recollection as to how he got there. Reins is forced to endure a series of physical and mental tortures as terrorists attempt to extract the location of Roulette, the President’s secret bunker.
Tim Mannion’s screenplay may not be the most original piece of writing in recent years, with obvious parallels...
Review by Andrew McArthur
Stars: Stephen Dorff, Chyler Leigh, Jr Bourne, Tom Berenger, Kali Rocha, Pruitt Taylor Vince | Written by Timothy Mannion | Directed by Gabe Torres
Stephen Dorff stars in Gabe Torres’ claustrophobic thriller, Brake, which proves to be far more than another Buried. After recieving its UK premiere at this years’ Edinburgh International Film Festival, Brake hits DVD and Blu-ray next week, providing some highly entertaining B-Movie thrills alongside another stellar performance from Dorff.
Secret Service agent, Jeremy Reins (Dorff) wakes up trapped in the boot (or trunk, for the non-Brits) of a car, with no recollection as to how he got there. Reins is forced to endure a series of physical and mental tortures as terrorists attempt to extract the location of Roulette, the President’s secret bunker.
Tim Mannion’s screenplay may not be the most original piece of writing in recent years, with obvious parallels...
- 10/23/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Berberian Sound Studio
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Toby Jones, Tonia Sotiropoulou, Susanna Cappellaro, Cosimo Fusco, Layla Amir | Written and Directed by Peter Strickland
Director, Peter Strickland (Katalin Varga) presents us with the truly unsettling look at the power of sound in his latest feature, the Toby Jones led, Berberian Sound Studio. Set in the 1970s, the film follows British sound technician, Gilderoy, as he works in Italy on a gruesome horror film. Soon Gilderoy’s work on this dark feature slowly begins to bleed into his everyday life.
Berberian Sound Studio is certainly not a horror film, instead more of a psychological thriller reminiscent of Hammer Films “Mini-Hitchcocks”. This completely absorbing and brooding drama manages to be unsettling, rather than scary. Strickland’s direction immediately emphasises a sense of foreboding, with the distinctive use of the sounds created in the studio capturing Gilderoy’s troubling mental state.
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Toby Jones, Tonia Sotiropoulou, Susanna Cappellaro, Cosimo Fusco, Layla Amir | Written and Directed by Peter Strickland
Director, Peter Strickland (Katalin Varga) presents us with the truly unsettling look at the power of sound in his latest feature, the Toby Jones led, Berberian Sound Studio. Set in the 1970s, the film follows British sound technician, Gilderoy, as he works in Italy on a gruesome horror film. Soon Gilderoy’s work on this dark feature slowly begins to bleed into his everyday life.
Berberian Sound Studio is certainly not a horror film, instead more of a psychological thriller reminiscent of Hammer Films “Mini-Hitchcocks”. This completely absorbing and brooding drama manages to be unsettling, rather than scary. Strickland’s direction immediately emphasises a sense of foreboding, with the distinctive use of the sounds created in the studio capturing Gilderoy’s troubling mental state.
- 8/26/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Guinea Pigs
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Aneurin Barnard, Oliver Coleman, Steve Evets, Alex Reid, Chris Larkin | Written and Directed by Ian Clark
Debuting at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival Ian Clark’s much anticipated first feature, Guinea Pigs finally makes it’s Frighfest debut – having originally scheduled to show in 2011 – but despite delivering some sharp moments of tension and a realistic style, the film unfortunately lacks in lasting impact.
Eight volunteers are sent to a remote medical facility to begin clinical trials on a new drug, tentatively titled Pro-9. It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary drug as extreme side affects begin to appear – you know, like turning into a raging psychopath. Although the subject of clinical trials has been tackled in the horror genre before, it still remains a chilling concept. Ian Clark furthers these chills by instilling a...
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Aneurin Barnard, Oliver Coleman, Steve Evets, Alex Reid, Chris Larkin | Written and Directed by Ian Clark
Debuting at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival Ian Clark’s much anticipated first feature, Guinea Pigs finally makes it’s Frighfest debut – having originally scheduled to show in 2011 – but despite delivering some sharp moments of tension and a realistic style, the film unfortunately lacks in lasting impact.
Eight volunteers are sent to a remote medical facility to begin clinical trials on a new drug, tentatively titled Pro-9. It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary drug as extreme side affects begin to appear – you know, like turning into a raging psychopath. Although the subject of clinical trials has been tackled in the horror genre before, it still remains a chilling concept. Ian Clark furthers these chills by instilling a...
- 8/24/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Grabbers
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley, Russell Tovey, Lalor Roddy, David Pearse, Bronagh Gallagher | Written by Kevin Lehane | Directed by Jon Wright
Jon Wright’s Irish set horror, Grabbers, feels like a welcome return to the days of the 1980s creature features laced with comedy. After several dead whales wash up on the shores of Erin Island, Garda Officers Ciarán O’Shea (Richard Coyle) and Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley) are set on the case. They soon discover the presence of blood-sucking, tentacled aliens on the island, promptly named “grabbers”. However, it soon becomes clear that these creatures have an aversion to alcohol – so let the drinking ensue!
Part of the joy of Grabbers, is that it never takes itself too seriously, balancing both comedic and horror elements single handedly. It replicates the effortless whimsical charm of timeless monster features like Gremlins,...
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley, Russell Tovey, Lalor Roddy, David Pearse, Bronagh Gallagher | Written by Kevin Lehane | Directed by Jon Wright
Jon Wright’s Irish set horror, Grabbers, feels like a welcome return to the days of the 1980s creature features laced with comedy. After several dead whales wash up on the shores of Erin Island, Garda Officers Ciarán O’Shea (Richard Coyle) and Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley) are set on the case. They soon discover the presence of blood-sucking, tentacled aliens on the island, promptly named “grabbers”. However, it soon becomes clear that these creatures have an aversion to alcohol – so let the drinking ensue!
Part of the joy of Grabbers, is that it never takes itself too seriously, balancing both comedic and horror elements single handedly. It replicates the effortless whimsical charm of timeless monster features like Gremlins,...
- 8/23/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Sun Don’T Shine
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Kate Lyn Sheil, Kentucker Audley, Aj Bowen, Kit Gwin | Written and Directed by Amy Seimetz
Amy Seimetz’s debut feature film, Sun Don’t Shine recently received its international premiere at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. This indie picture feels like a fusion of a road movie, psychological drama and thriller – proving to be an impressive feature debut and stirring watch.
Two young lovers, Crystal (Sheil) and Leo (Audley) go on the run in rural Florida, the pair both haunted by a dark secret that bounds them together. With a gun in the glove compartment and ever growing paranoia – their relationship begins to hit new extremes.
Seimetz creates a tense and brooding atmosphere, using the humid Florida landscape as a canvas for this paranoia-infused drama. Sun Don’t Shine is a film shrouded in mystery,...
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Kate Lyn Sheil, Kentucker Audley, Aj Bowen, Kit Gwin | Written and Directed by Amy Seimetz
Amy Seimetz’s debut feature film, Sun Don’t Shine recently received its international premiere at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. This indie picture feels like a fusion of a road movie, psychological drama and thriller – proving to be an impressive feature debut and stirring watch.
Two young lovers, Crystal (Sheil) and Leo (Audley) go on the run in rural Florida, the pair both haunted by a dark secret that bounds them together. With a gun in the glove compartment and ever growing paranoia – their relationship begins to hit new extremes.
Seimetz creates a tense and brooding atmosphere, using the humid Florida landscape as a canvas for this paranoia-infused drama. Sun Don’t Shine is a film shrouded in mystery,...
- 7/3/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Kotoko
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Cocco, Shin’ya Tsukamoto | Written by Cocco, Shin’ya Tsukamoto | Directed by Shin’ya Tsukamoto
Japanese director and actor, Shin’ya Tsukamoto, latest project sees him team up with folk rock artist, Cocco for disturbing horror drama, Kotoko. Tsukamoto’s film follows a woman, Kotoko, balancing life as a single mother, alongside her threatening mental problems. Gradually, the boundaries between what is real and what is simply a product of her dark imagination, begin to blur.
Shin’ya Tsukamoto is on top form visually, dragging us into Kotoko’s harrowing nightmare world filled with twisted double vision and hallucinations of the dangers that could affect her child. Kotoko’s disturbing apparitions are particularly difficult to watch – seeing the mentally unstable mother standing on a rooftop, slowly loosening her grip of her baby, is completely unsettling. This combined with Kotoko’s high pitched,...
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Cocco, Shin’ya Tsukamoto | Written by Cocco, Shin’ya Tsukamoto | Directed by Shin’ya Tsukamoto
Japanese director and actor, Shin’ya Tsukamoto, latest project sees him team up with folk rock artist, Cocco for disturbing horror drama, Kotoko. Tsukamoto’s film follows a woman, Kotoko, balancing life as a single mother, alongside her threatening mental problems. Gradually, the boundaries between what is real and what is simply a product of her dark imagination, begin to blur.
Shin’ya Tsukamoto is on top form visually, dragging us into Kotoko’s harrowing nightmare world filled with twisted double vision and hallucinations of the dangers that could affect her child. Kotoko’s disturbing apparitions are particularly difficult to watch – seeing the mentally unstable mother standing on a rooftop, slowly loosening her grip of her baby, is completely unsettling. This combined with Kotoko’s high pitched,...
- 7/3/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Berberian Sound Studio
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Toby Jones, Tonia Sotiropoulou, Susanna Cappellaro, Cosimo Fusco, Layla Amir | Written and Directed by Peter Strickland
Director, Peter Strickland (Katalin Varga) presents us with the truly unsettling look at the power of sound in his latest feature, the Toby Jones led, Berberian Sound Studio – which makes its world premiere at this years’ Edinburgh International Film Festival. Set in the 1970s, Berberian Sound Studio follows British sound technician, Gilderoy, as he works in Italy on a gruesome horror film. Soon Gilderoy’s work on this dark feature slowly begins to bleed into his everyday life.
Berberian Sound Studio is certainly not a horror film, instead more of a psychological thriller reminiscent of Hammer Films “Mini-Hitchcocks”. This completely absorbing and brooding drama manages to be unsettling, rather than scary. Strickland’s direction immediately emphasises a sense of foreboding, with...
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Toby Jones, Tonia Sotiropoulou, Susanna Cappellaro, Cosimo Fusco, Layla Amir | Written and Directed by Peter Strickland
Director, Peter Strickland (Katalin Varga) presents us with the truly unsettling look at the power of sound in his latest feature, the Toby Jones led, Berberian Sound Studio – which makes its world premiere at this years’ Edinburgh International Film Festival. Set in the 1970s, Berberian Sound Studio follows British sound technician, Gilderoy, as he works in Italy on a gruesome horror film. Soon Gilderoy’s work on this dark feature slowly begins to bleed into his everyday life.
Berberian Sound Studio is certainly not a horror film, instead more of a psychological thriller reminiscent of Hammer Films “Mini-Hitchcocks”. This completely absorbing and brooding drama manages to be unsettling, rather than scary. Strickland’s direction immediately emphasises a sense of foreboding, with...
- 6/29/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Tim And Eric’S Billion Dollar Movie
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Robert Loggia, Will Ferrell, Jeff Goldblum | Written and Directed by Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim
It seems that if a television comedy duo is successful enough that a movie is inevitable. Unfortunately, it is very rare that these movies are actually worth watching – just think Ant & Dec’s Alien Autopsy or David Mitchell and Robert Webb’s Magicians. Hoping to buck that trend are Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, the creators and stars of Adult Swim television series, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! The duo have presented us with Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie, which will no doubt appeal to fans of the television series.
Tim and Eric are two filmmakers who are given a $1 billion dollar budget to make a film for the Schlaaang Corporation.
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Robert Loggia, Will Ferrell, Jeff Goldblum | Written and Directed by Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim
It seems that if a television comedy duo is successful enough that a movie is inevitable. Unfortunately, it is very rare that these movies are actually worth watching – just think Ant & Dec’s Alien Autopsy or David Mitchell and Robert Webb’s Magicians. Hoping to buck that trend are Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, the creators and stars of Adult Swim television series, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! The duo have presented us with Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie, which will no doubt appeal to fans of the television series.
Tim and Eric are two filmmakers who are given a $1 billion dollar budget to make a film for the Schlaaang Corporation.
- 6/29/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Grabbers
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley, Russell Tovey, Lalor Roddy, David Pearse, Bronagh Gallagher | Written by Kevin Lehane | Directed by Jon Wright
Jon Wright’s Irish set horror, Grabbers, feels like a welcome return to the days of the 1980s creature features laced with comedy. So far, it is also the most entertaining horror film of this years’ Edinburgh International Film Festival.
After several dead whales wash up on the shores of Erin Island, Garda Officers Ciarán O’Shea (Richard Coyle) and Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley) are set on the case. They soon discover the presence of blood-sucking, tentacled aliens on the island, promptly named “grabbers”. However, it soon becomes clear that these creatures have an aversion to alcohol – so let the drinking ensue!
Part of the joy of Grabbers, is that it never takes itself too seriously, balancing both comedic and horror elements single handedly.
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley, Russell Tovey, Lalor Roddy, David Pearse, Bronagh Gallagher | Written by Kevin Lehane | Directed by Jon Wright
Jon Wright’s Irish set horror, Grabbers, feels like a welcome return to the days of the 1980s creature features laced with comedy. So far, it is also the most entertaining horror film of this years’ Edinburgh International Film Festival.
After several dead whales wash up on the shores of Erin Island, Garda Officers Ciarán O’Shea (Richard Coyle) and Lisa Nolan (Ruth Bradley) are set on the case. They soon discover the presence of blood-sucking, tentacled aliens on the island, promptly named “grabbers”. However, it soon becomes clear that these creatures have an aversion to alcohol – so let the drinking ensue!
Part of the joy of Grabbers, is that it never takes itself too seriously, balancing both comedic and horror elements single handedly.
- 6/26/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Brake
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Stephen Dorff, Chyler Leigh, Jr Bourne, Tom Berenger, Kali Rocha, Pruitt Taylor Vince | Written by Timothy Mannion | Directed by Gabe Torres
Stephen Dorff stars in Gabe Torres’ claustrophobic thriller, Brake, which proves to be far more than another Buried. Receiving its UK premiere at this years’ Edinburgh International Film Festival, Brake provides some highly entertaining B-Movie thrills alongside another stellar performance from Dorff.
Secret Service agent, Jeremy Reins (Dorff) wakes up trapped in the boot (or trunk, for the non-Brits) of a car, with no recollection as to how he got there. Reins is forced to endure a series of physical and mental tortures as terrorists attempt to extract the location of Roulette, the President’s secret bunker.
Tim Mannion’s screenplay may not be the most original piece of writing in recent years, with obvious parallels to Rodrigo Cortes’ Buried being raised.
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Stephen Dorff, Chyler Leigh, Jr Bourne, Tom Berenger, Kali Rocha, Pruitt Taylor Vince | Written by Timothy Mannion | Directed by Gabe Torres
Stephen Dorff stars in Gabe Torres’ claustrophobic thriller, Brake, which proves to be far more than another Buried. Receiving its UK premiere at this years’ Edinburgh International Film Festival, Brake provides some highly entertaining B-Movie thrills alongside another stellar performance from Dorff.
Secret Service agent, Jeremy Reins (Dorff) wakes up trapped in the boot (or trunk, for the non-Brits) of a car, with no recollection as to how he got there. Reins is forced to endure a series of physical and mental tortures as terrorists attempt to extract the location of Roulette, the President’s secret bunker.
Tim Mannion’s screenplay may not be the most original piece of writing in recent years, with obvious parallels to Rodrigo Cortes’ Buried being raised.
- 6/25/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Pusher
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Richard Coyle, Agyness Deyn , Zlatko Buric, Paul Kaye, Bronson Webb, Mem Ferda, Neil Maskell | Written by Matthew Read | Directed by Luis Prieto
Luis Prieto’s British made update of Nicolas Winding Refn’s 1996 film, Pusher, receives its world premiere at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. The Spanish director has presented us with a gripping, adrenaline fuelled ride, which is by far one of the most exciting British crime thrillers in recent years.
Frank (Richard Coyle) may just be London’s most unlucky drug dealer. After a deal goes horrendously wrong, he finds himself owing a ruthless Serbian crime boss over £55,000. In a desperate search for money, Frank soon finds his life spiralling out of control and relationships with those around him beginning to crumble.
It is hard to deviate from certain traditional elements in this genre, for example,...
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Richard Coyle, Agyness Deyn , Zlatko Buric, Paul Kaye, Bronson Webb, Mem Ferda, Neil Maskell | Written by Matthew Read | Directed by Luis Prieto
Luis Prieto’s British made update of Nicolas Winding Refn’s 1996 film, Pusher, receives its world premiere at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. The Spanish director has presented us with a gripping, adrenaline fuelled ride, which is by far one of the most exciting British crime thrillers in recent years.
Frank (Richard Coyle) may just be London’s most unlucky drug dealer. After a deal goes horrendously wrong, he finds himself owing a ruthless Serbian crime boss over £55,000. In a desperate search for money, Frank soon finds his life spiralling out of control and relationships with those around him beginning to crumble.
It is hard to deviate from certain traditional elements in this genre, for example,...
- 6/22/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Guinea Pigs
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Aneurin Barnard, Oliver Coleman, Steve Evets, Alex Reid?, Chris Larkin | Written and Directed by Ian Clark
Ian Clark’s much anticipated first feature, Guinea Pigs receives its debut at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. Despite delivering some sharp moments of tension and a realistic style, Guinea Pigs unfortunately lacks in lasting impact.
Eight volunteers are sent to a remote medical facility to begin clinical trials on a new drug, tentatively titled Pro-9. It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary drug as extreme side affects begin to appear – you know, like turning into a raging psychopath. ??Although the subject of clinical trials has been tackled in the horror genre before, it still remains a chilling concept. Ian Clark furthers these chills by instilling a strong sense of realism throughout Guinea Pigs, most notably through his almost documentary style direction.
Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies
Stars: Aneurin Barnard, Oliver Coleman, Steve Evets, Alex Reid?, Chris Larkin | Written and Directed by Ian Clark
Ian Clark’s much anticipated first feature, Guinea Pigs receives its debut at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. Despite delivering some sharp moments of tension and a realistic style, Guinea Pigs unfortunately lacks in lasting impact.
Eight volunteers are sent to a remote medical facility to begin clinical trials on a new drug, tentatively titled Pro-9. It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary drug as extreme side affects begin to appear – you know, like turning into a raging psychopath. ??Although the subject of clinical trials has been tackled in the horror genre before, it still remains a chilling concept. Ian Clark furthers these chills by instilling a strong sense of realism throughout Guinea Pigs, most notably through his almost documentary style direction.
- 6/21/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
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