“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…
‘My Bloody Valentine’ (1981) in Relation to Vera Dika’s “The Stalker Film” Essay
The stalker or slasher film is a phenomenon that began in the late 1970s with John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), reaching nationwide markets during 1978 – 1981. Halloween inspired many stalker films which all share a set group of cinematic and narrative elements, put in place by Carpenter. Many directors copied its style in the hope of replicating its success….
10 Female Coming-of-Age Films from the Early 2000s
Also featured in Ramona Magazine. Coming-of-age films are a genuine treasure to cinema. And so is John Hughes, who brought us the 80s classics, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles. Unrelated to Hughes, there’s also the incredible Heathers, Clueless, and Mean Girls—my favourite unofficial trilogy of films from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. But what about the…
Film Review: Suspiria (1977)
“Bad luck isn’t brought by broken mirrors, but by broken minds.” A surrealist work of art with an incredible set design, cinematography and a violent, disturbing soundtrack. Italian director Dario Argento created the horror masterpiece that is Suspiria in 1977. This film has achieved cult status with its bizarre and unsettling tones, making it a feature that…
Film Review: Freeheld (2015)
“The only thing I care about is justice for the woman I love.“ Freeheld is a film that is based on true events which has demanded attention since it announced its lead stars Julianne Moore and Elliot Page. It tells the story of Laurel Hester, a police officer in Ocean County, New Jersey, who is eventually…
Film Review: Timer (2009)
“If a clock could count down to the moment you meet your soul mate, would you want to know?” Timer (2009), stylised as TiMER, is the feature length film debut, both written and directed, by Jac Schaeffer that carries an interesting premise. A company produces an all-new type of matchmaking device named “the timer” which…
Top 10 Films of 2015
Here are my top 10 favourite films from 2015. Some films are from 2014, but had a UK release date of early 2015. I still haven’t seen American Ultra, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mad Max: Fury Road, Straight Outta Compton, The Martian, Everest, and Carol, which are on my watchlist. 10. The Sisterhood of…
The Influence of Ed Gein in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), which was written and directed by Tobe Hooper, is always pulled up in lists of the greatest horror films. Total Film magazine canvassed leading directors and stars of horror to find out their favourites. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre happened to come at the very top of the list, giving it the…