The most striking part of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) is its fresh and innovative animation style which parts from the boldness we are so used to seeing in Studio Ghibli’s more refined films. Director Isao Takahata, who has worked on other Ghibli films (Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko and My Neighbours…
Reviews
Film Review: Ava’s Possessions
“Demons are a girl’s best friend.” Jordan Galland brings a fresh taste to the demonic possession subgenre of horror in Ava’s Possessions as he begins his film where most of the others end: the exorcism. After she is freed from her demon, Ava (Louise Krause) is facing charges for property damage, assault, indecent exposure and two counts…
Film Review: Daughters of Darkness (1971)
“I’ve seen many a night fall away into an even more endless night.” Lesbian vampire films became a phenomenon in the 70s with Belgium film director Harry Kümel’s Daughters of Darkness (1971) as no exception. Known as Les Lévres Rouges (The Red Lips) in France, the beautifully crafted film is about two lovers who cross paths with the vampire…
Film Review: Chappie (2015)
“Don’t let people take away your potential, Chappie.” For a film I had heard a lot about, I was still unable to grasp exactly what it would be like. I had only heard anecdotes about a piece of AI technology called Chappie (voiced by Sharlto Copley) and not much about how he fit into the…
Film Review: A girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014)
“So… what did you see all this time watching me?“ Advertised as the “first Iranian vampire western,” A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) is a stunning film, shot in monochrome black and white, written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. The film is set in the Iranian ghost-town Bad City and tells the story of…
Film Review: Obvious Child (2014)
“You’re dizzy because you played Russian roulette with your vagina.“ I came across Obvious Child (2014) whilst searching for more films to watch for the 52 Films by Women project. Obvious Child was both written and directed by Gillian Robespierre, who said whilst she loved films like Knocked Up (2007) and Juno (2007), she did not see herself relating to them and set…
Film Review: Jenny’s Wedding (2015)
“When you meet the right person, you go the distance. And let me tell you about the distance: everybody changes. But if you’re with the right person, and they change; you meet the right person all over again.” Jenny Farrell (Katherine Heigl) and her immediate family are brought together for a baptism, and Jenny learns…
Film Review: Girls Against Boys (2012)
Bad Girls Don’t Cry. They Get Even. Girls Against Boys is unlike any other revenge drama. It touches upon some elements of horror and delivers a few twists which is what makes it stand out from other films that carry a similar premise. It stars Danielle Panabaker as Shae who has a lot of bad experience…
Film Review: The Herd (2014)
The first feminist vegan horror film. The Herd (2014) was first introduced to me at Celluloid Screams, Sheffield’s horror film festival, in October of last year. During this time I was working as part of the festival team and didn’t get a chance to see it. However, I did see the effect it had on people…
Film Review: Crimson Peak (2015)
“Ghosts are real, that much I know. I’ve seen them all my life…“ Guillermo del Toro is no stranger to dark fantasy with his impressive filmography including films such as The Devil’s Backbone (2001), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Blade II (2002) and Hellboy (2004). His latest effort, Crimson Peak (2015), is no exception and is a remarkable gothic horror that tells a ghost story that isn’t…