2) Martyrs (2008)

Beloved by us in the horror field and what a twisted masterpiece this is. I remember my first and only watch of Martyrs with my house mate serveral years ago and the silence that we had between us as the credits rolled. Martyrs is the depraved story of one women looking to get revenge and murder the people who tormented and tortured her as a child. What we get is a disturbing but visually stunning revenge horror that will change you as a film fan.

1) The Last House on the Left (1972)

Wes Craven’s first film and his most brutal and hard to watch. A tale a parental revenge on the scum that raped and murdered their daughter. This has one of the most harrowing scenes in horror history and righfully should be on the video nasty list, however this is a must watch for horror fans.

Creepy urban legends are known to receive plenty of attention online. If you’re a fan of a horror story, you’ll definitely enjoy taking a look at some of the most frightening folklores that have been around far longer than you’ve been alive. To celebrate the release of The Curse of La Llorona arriving in cinemas May 3rd, we’ve curated a list of some of the spookiest folktales from around the world! Read on if you dare…

1. For people who may not know you tell us about yourself and How did the podcast come about?
 
Hello! I am Kelly, aka Street Trash from the Coming to Get you Podcast. I live and breathe horror films and I have done since I was 6 years old. CTGY all started when I was in some dire office job and I'd sit there for hours listening to other podcasts and I just thought "I want to do this." Me and my best mate Rich were always having massive talks about horror films over Xbox Live when gaming so I was like "Fuck it, let's do it ourselves!"
 
2. What was your entry point into horror?
 
When I was 6 years old I went downstairs for a drink at dickhead o'clock one night. My older brother was watching a VHS tape and turned it off but I was curious about what it was. He declined me wanting to watch it but I promised I wouldn't get scared. The film was Scream. Wes Craven absolutely kick started my love of all things horror and I haven't been the same since!
 
3. What has been your favourite episode of the podcast so far?
 
I would say I had a lot of fun recording the IT: Chapter 1 episode. I was really, really looking forward to seeing it and I had a ton of fun getting to finally talk about it. My top film of 2017. Although some films we choose to watch are bad, they can be fun to rip the piss out of, too.
 

4. What is your Favourite horror subgenre? And what film would you recommend from it.
 
I am a massive sucker for the slasher subgenre. They're mostly all the same thing over and over again but it is still fun and very silly.
I would recommend the obvious mainstream slashers, of course. But I also really love Stage Fright and The Burning.
​
 
5. Favourite horror film of ALL TIME?
 
This is easy. Scream! First one I watched and it opened up a whole new world of crazy things for me. As I grew up I understood the references from other films which made me love it more. I'd also say I appreciate it because Craven saved the dying slasher genre where there were just so many stupid sequels being churned out. It was a game changer.
 
6. Worst horror film you have seen?
 
I have seen a lot of trash. Like, A LOT. I always say the remake of The Wicker Man.. because.. I mean, come on. But one I hated from last year was Slenderman. It was just fucking ridiculous. But weirdly enough.. that is the film we're going to record about next week.. and absolutely tear it apart. It'll be a laugh.

7. What advice would you give people who may want to start podcasting?
 
I had zero experience when I started CTGY. No idea about editing or promoting or anything. I think it's easier for me and Rich as we're best mates and we can just kick back and have a casual chat about horror films and it just comes naturally to us. But I'd say be confident. If it's your passion, I think it will just spill out. Smooth out the sound quality as much as you can, and promote, promote, promote. Engage with listeners a lot.
 
8. What is next for yourself and the podcast?
 
The IT: Chapter 2 trailer drops tomorrow so we're going to be watching it and then discussing it immediately after for a bonus episode. We did it for the trailer for the first film so why not do it for this one?
 
You can follow the Coming to Get You Podcast at the following social media outlets and website
 
Twitter @CTGYpodcast
Website http://comingtogetyoupodcast.wordpress.com
Kelly's Twitter @streetXXtrash
Rich's Twitter @richicrypt
​

With the Snakebite Horrorcast Podcast heading to you ear holes this month I wanted to celebrate one of the best horror podcasts out there today, and to be honest one of the big inspirations for me starting the podcast. The Evolution of Horror podcast is the brain child of BFI's Mike Muncer which takes the listener on a journey through the evolution of the horror genre covering all the subgenres that horror has to horror. So far they have covered The Slasher, Folk Horror, Supernatural and are currently covering the Zombie Sub-Genre. Mike was kind enough to give up some of his time to answer a few questions, where he talks his favourite horror, his work at BFI and his advise for budding podcasters.


For people who may not know you tell us about yourself and how you got involved in the film business.

I’m a producer, which is one of those nonsense titles that could mean a thousand different things…but I work predominantly in TV, Film and Online video. I spent several years working on a film review programme at the BBC called Film 2019 (the title would change depending on the year!) It was a bit of a dream-come-true job, I got to meet famous film stars, go on film sets, meet lots of film critics, make lots of videos and edit lots of features. Since that show ended I’ve been doing lots of other film journalism and video…I make videos for the BFI (British Film Institute), Digital Spy, MTV, Disney, Netflix and other fun places!

How did the podcast come about?

Working in TV and digital video, it’s always about making everything SHORT and SNAPPY. I’ve always been obsessed with the horror genre, and one of my favourite pieces I made for the BBC film programme was a feature on the history of horror, featuring Kim Newman, Andy Nyman and a bunch of other legends in the horror industry. I’d shot and written enough material to make an entire 60 minute programme about the subject, but I was only allowed to make it 4 minutes max! I really love the relaxed, long-form nature of podcasts, and thought, why not put my producing skills (and my contacts book of film critics!) to good use and devote hundreds of hours to my favourite genre?


What was your entry point into horror?

My first taste of the scary and the macabre was the video to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I watched it aged 4 and was instantly obsessed. My family owned the VHS of the video and according to my parents I watched it repeatedly as a young child. It also had a ‘Making Of’ featurette after the video and I found that equally as fascinating. I think this gave birth to my love of horror and filmmaking. The first real horror movie experience was Scream (1996). I was 11 years old and terrified by the opening scene with Drew Barrymore but couldn’t stop watching. I loved it from start to finish. I didn’t get any of the “meta’ references the characters made, but it didn’t matter. In fact, it gave me titles to seek out, it was my gateway drug!


What has been your favourite seasons of the podcast?

My favourite sub-genre is probably ghostly / supernatural, so I loved doing the season on ghosts and covering some of my favourite movies like The Shining, The Innocents and The Orphanage…however, the season I’m most proud of is the one on Folk Horror. It’s such a strange sub-genre that’s hard to define and this gave me license to have so much fun with such and including such a variety of films. I got to somehow argue that The Night Of The Hunter, Straw Dogs, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Wicker Man, Get Out and The Blair Witch Project were all part of the same sub-genre. It sparked so much conversations, feedback and debates with the listeners. I loved it.

Who has been your favourite guest / favourite episode so far?

There are so many, this feels like choosing my favourite child. Can I give you five? I loved episode 1 with Kim Newman, because…it’s Kim Newman! My favourite single film discussion would be The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with Jamie Graham, because it’s my favourite ever horror film and because Jamie Graham is so incredibly insightful, funny, knowledgeable and interesting. Discussing BBC’s Ghostwatch with Boyd Hilton and its director Lesley Manning was an incredible treat, I’m proud of that episode. I always love having Jen Handorf on the show because she gives a unique insight as a film producer, so talks about movies like Dawn Of The Dead from a different perspective to most journalists and critics. I could also listen to Louise Blain all day long and she makes subjects I wouldn’t otherwise be interested in (like video games or The Conjuring movies) sound fascinating. But honestly, I love every single guest.


 Which non obvious sub-genre would you really like to look at in the future?

One that explores ‘the mind’…I’m not sure what you’d call it…psychological horror? Movies like Jacob’s Ladder, Repulsion and anything directed by David Lynch.


What is your Favourite subgenre? And what film would you recommend from it.

It’s got to be ghost movies. I love horror that scares me, and nothing is scarier than a well made ghost movie. I’d recommend The Innocents (1961) to anyone who hasn’t seen it. Don’t be fooled by thinking it’s a stuffy, old fashioned black & white movie. Watch it in the dark, with the volume up high. It’s still absolutely terrifying.

Favourite horror film

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is the greatest horror movie ever made, I truly believe that. But it’s hard to watch over and over. My personal favourites that I can watch repeatedly are The Shining, The Wicker Man, Black Christmas, The Descent and The Night Of The Hunter. I realise I cheated and just named six.


Worst horror film you have seen?

The Nun (2018). Of course there are heaps of cheap rubbish horror films out there, but The Nun had buckets of money behind it, a director with a great track record, a creepy setting, scary backstory, a terrifying character, yet they still somehow managed to make it eye-rollingly dull. It’s almost impressive that it turned out as bad as it was.


What advice would you give people who may want to start podcasting?

You might think that making a podcast that’s about a broad topic like ‘film’ is going to get you more listeners, but in fact it’s the opposite, pick a niche instead: Horror movies, comics, sci-fi, heavy metal music, rap, Grange Hill, fishing, whatever it might be…something specific, it’s much more likely to find a passionate (and loyal) audience.


What is next for yourself and the podcast?

The zombie series will be ending in the next few weeks and then I’ll be kicking off series 5 later this year! But I can’t reveal what that is yet…I’ll also be doing some work with Frightfest in London in the summer.

You can find the evolution of horror pod over at https://evolutionofhorror.libsyn.com/ along with any podcasting format i.e iTunes.

You can also follow them on Twitter https://twitter.com/EvolutionPod and over of Facebook.

As writer, director, producer Juliane Block prepares to shoot Zombie home invasion movie HOBBES HOUSE, she reveals her early obsession with monster make-up, casting for a big fantasy Xmas movie and her fascination for the dark side of the human mind. 
​

So tell us how HOBBES HOUSE was developed?
 
I always felt like I needed to get back to shooting an out-and-out horror film. There's nothing like the fun on the set of a Zombie flick. While waiting for Lyra's Wish, my next big project to be greenlit, I was talking to executive producer Malcolm Winter if he was game to shoot and finance a low budget film in between. Malcolm came back to me with a figure he felt comfortable raising in a very short time span. That was in October 2018. Wolf-Peter Arand, the writer, immediately got to work, developing the story together. He went on to write a treatment and from the treatment the script, and here we are in February 2019, fully immersed in pre-production and the shoot scheduled for February / March.
 
How would you best describe it?
 
Hobbes House is a hybrid of two classic horror themes: the spooky horror house and a classic Zombie tale: When down on her luck Jane Doherty learns about the death of her grandmother she expects a life-saving inheritance but finds herself battling bloodthirsty Zombies instead, fighting for her life.
 
This will be the first time you’ve directed a feature film in the UK. Excited?
 
I'm super excited! It's not my first British production, but different then my last film 3 Lives, this will be entirely shot with British actors on British grounds. And there's nothing as entertaining as being on set with Zombies. I’m looking forward to three very intense and fun filled weeks in Bristol.
 
Looks like you’ll continue to be based in the UK to direct a family adventure film, LYRA’S WISH, in which a little girl takes it upon herself to save Santa Claus from extinction.  What can you tell us about the project?
 

Hobbes’ House
 
I’m working very closely with screenwriter Wolf-Peter Arand. Sitting together, trying to get 3 Lives off the ground and getting somewhat frustrated about it, we thought about doing something different. Animals are commercial, family entertainment is and everyone loves Christmas. So we threw those three elements into one story and garnered it with fantastic creatures and old traditional myth around Christmas.
 
We had some very exciting news for Lyra's Wish over the holiday. Two major stars have expressed their serious interest to star in the movie. We are just waiting for the Letter of Intent from one, and I'm scheduled to have a talk to the other one possibly next week. Once that's all signed, I hope to be able to openly announce their attachment. 
You’ve recently completed two unflinching thrillers, 3 LIVES and 8 REMAINS. Both deal with the psychological trauma of sexual abuse but shot in very different ways. Can you tell us what inspired you to make them?
 
3 Lives was inspired by my own past. The story has nothing to do with what happened to me, but certainly helped me to come to terms with some ugly events in my own past. 8 Remains was written by Laura Sommer, and that she is interested in similar subjects shows the importance of this topic for all women, and subsequently also men I believe.
 
I believe the numbers out in the public about how many women had to deal with sexual abuse in their lives are only showing half the truth. For 3 Lives it was 94% of all female crew. I therefore believe we need films portraying abuse through stories written by women and through the eyes of women. When men write about or portray abuse, women almost always end up to be absolute mad revenge angels, or the victims who deal with the abuse internally. But the truth lies in between. 

You live and work in Germany. What are your thoughts about the current state of the horror genre there?
 
We have great recent developments in the Indie film scene in Germany. More and more filmmakers are looking for a way outside the common funding system, which is not appreciative of genre, and are doing their own films, funded in creative ways. I think give it a couple more years, and we might have a number of great horror films also coming from Germany.
 

3 Lives
 
What were your early influences in deciding to become a film director?
 
I had an early obsession with make-up, when I was about eight or nine. My mom gave neighbourhood parties for the local women, selling beauty make-up. I collected the left overs and used them to create my own make-ups: it was always all about monsters, never anything pretty (in the common sense.) I started to experiment with latex and foam as teenager, moving on to Zombie masks. When I finally met Marc Fehse, a fellow student at University who was working on a no budget Zombie flick, that was my introduction into the world of filmmaking, and I loved it.
 
You made your directorial debut with the short film UNSECURED LOAN in 2007. What gave you the inspiration to choose the violent world of drug-dealing in Malaysia?
 
I’m fascinated by the dark side of the human mind. When I came to Malaysia, I realised at some point that I can’t wait forever of the perfect job opportunity to come my way in the film industry. If I want things to happen, I have to do this myself.
 
My brother wrote a short story, which the film is loosely based on. I used it and adapted it for the screen in Malaysia. I think my specific interest in loan sharking was also due to the fact, that it’s something which happens a lot more aggressively in Asia than in Europe.
 
The Horror genre is enjoying a terrific global resurgence. What’s your take on this?
 
Whenever there's political turmoil in the world, horror, and specifically Zombie films become very popular. Currently, with Brexit looming, with Trump in the US and a number of populists rising in mainland Europe (not to talk about wars and conflicts on other continents) I believe it's an expression of the feeling of the people. 
 
Which directors do you admire and why?
 
One of my favourite directors is the Korean director Kim Jee Woon. I stumbled across his films in Singapore, when randomly choosing his movie The Good The Bad The Weird. I was blown away. I think he combines wit with stunning pictures and a captivating story.
 

8 Remains
 
I really like Taiki Waititi’s, who recently directed Thor 3. I was laughing throughout his film  What we do in the Shadows and I think his move from this indie film to Thor 3 is really inspiring.
 
Last but not least I really admire Patty Jenkins. I loved what she did with Wonder Woman and of course I believe there should be more women directing super hero movies.
 
What else is in the pipeline?
 
Currently I’m in the process of optioning a German Children’s book, which is kind of a nice follow up project to Lyra’s Wish and would be the first German film I’d direct. There’s a Sci-Fi Action adventure called Foster, which I started writing years ago and a Sci-Fi thriller called The Fall of Men.
 
HOBBES HOUSE will go into production on Feb 17, shooting for three weeks on locations in Bristol, UK.
​
Interview supplied by Clout Communications

Ahead of the UK premiere of Adrián García Bogliano’s hypnotic BLACK CIRCLE at Arrow Video FrightFest Glasgow 2019, star and Swedish exploitation icon Christina Lindberg reflects on memorable moments, meeting Tarantino and making a comeback.
 
How did your modelling career start and did that inevitably lead to your career as an actress?
 
I was discovered the classic way; on the beach at the age of 18. After having been photographed as a “bathing girl” for most of the newspapers in southern Sweden, I was asked to do a centrefold shoot for one of Sweden’s biggest men’s magazines, by Siwer Ohlsson, the most celebrated glamour girl photographer of the time. I said yes to throwing away my bra, despite the fact that as a young woman, I was very shy. 

The photos grabbed a lot of attention, and a Swedish film producer got in touch. He offered me a role, even though I wasn’t an actress. Since the film was directed by one the most famous Swedish directors at that time (Jan Halldoff), and the other actors were real giants of the theatre stage, 

I was suddenly in the spotlight, just a few days after completing my high school exam. The film was Rötmånad (Dog Days) (1970), and, incidentally, it had its international premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival!
 
When did you first learn that Quentin Tarantino based the Bride character in KILL BILL on your role in THRILLER/THEY CALL HER ONE EYE? 
 
I had only seen Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and thought it was a really good movie. But I didn’t know much about Tarantino apart from that. So it took me a while to really grasp what an incredible homage to Thriller it was, that he was inspired by it, and talked about it in interviews.

A couple of years ago I met Tarantino, in conjunction with the Swedish gala premiere of Inglorious Bastards. The film distributor set up a meeting at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, requested by Tarantino. We talked for quite a while, and exchanged autographs. To see to it that the meeting was documented properly, he brought me out on the red carpet that night, so we could be photographed together. Something he knew I could benefit from.
 
Do you have any memories of making THRILLER/THEY CALL HER ONE EYE? Did you think it would have the longevity it has?

Oh, yes! I have lots of memories. It was a film shoot out of the ordinary…There was a lot of drama behind the camera. For example, the director never got permission to use the locations or fenced them off, so one day when we shot a scene in a park, when I threw myself out of the (fake) police car, with my leather coat, eye-patch and sawn-off shotgun, people on their casual Sunday walks actually started running for their lives!

This was a film that really stood out at the time, but that it would still be of interest and celebrated 45 years later, was something I could never have imagined.
 
When you look back at your 1970s film career, what stands out? Do you have any particular affection for any of the movies or are they now just cause for embarrassment?

I have always tried to do my best with my film roles. I have no regrets about what I did in the movies. But of course some films are closer to my heart than others.
 
You became a noted aviation journalist and animal rights activist after you ended your film career so what made you decide to come back to acting after a 30-plus year gap with BLACK CIRCLE?
 
I never really let go of my film career past. That’s why it felt completely natural to say yes, when Bogliano offered me the part in Black Circle. It was like coming home again.
 
What did you like most about the BLACK CIRCLE script?
 
It was the mystery and the darkness in the story. The role as Lena fitted me perfectly. I have some of her character in my persona.
 
Were you aware of the work of director Adrian Garcia Bogliano? What films of his did you watch before signing on to play the character of Lena?

I had only heard positive things and admiration for Bogliano, before I accepted the part. I knew he was a fan of Ingmar Bergman, as well as of Thriller. I had seen two of his films that I really liked; Scherzo Diabolico and I’ll Never Die Alone.
 
 How did you find being back in front of the camera after all these years? 
 
It was completely unproblematic. It just felt good. But I have to confess, it took some running-in…
 
And working with co-stars Hanna Asp, Hanna and Erica Midfjäll, Madeleine Trollvik, singer Johan Palm and especially Inger Nilsson, the original Pippi Longstocking!
 
The atmosphere on location was fantastic. Everyone involved in the film was eager to do their very best, especially since we had a tight shooting schedule.
 
You’re back, does that mean you are now open to other movie offers?
 
Absolutely. I just shot a short film - a drama about relations set at Christmas time. I have also been offered a part in a new Swedish feature film, Biodlaren (The Beekeeper), which will be shot this year. Black Circle has really given me an appetite for more.

BLACK CIRCLE is showing at the Glasgow Film Theatre on Sat 2 March, 3.30pm, as part of Arrow Video FrightFest Glasgow 2019.  Christina will be attending.

Despite the apparently collective feeling that Hollywood is running out of ideas and mainstream films are losing originality due to our screens being oversaturated with sequels, remakes and cinematic universes, 2018 was a pretty great year for movies. It was a particularly strong year for horror films, and even a few big budget blockbusters proved that there’s still a few gems coming from Hollywood. Here’s my top 10 movies of the year – and it was a struggle to stick to 10.

​ 10. ‘Love, Simon’


‘Love, Simon’ is a romcom starring Nick Robinson (‘Jurassic World’) as the titular character, but it’s a little different from your usual mainstream romcoms that often star heterosexual couples; Simon is gay and still in the closet. The films follows his journey of coming to terms with his identity when a classmate finds out his secret and uses it to blackmail him. He also begins falling for an anonymous pen pal who is struggling with his identity, and tries to figure out who it is. It’s like a love letter to queer teens and is a comforting story in the end, and also acknowledges the casual homophobia/stereotyping that has become normalised. It has sweet, likeable characters and a relatable story that will probably resonate with the LGBT+ community in particular for a while, while also providing a sense of understanding to audiences outside of the community as well.

 9. ‘Overlord’


‘Overlord’ is half war movie, half Cronenbergian horror film; based on the real operation Overlord during WWII, the story revolves around American soldiers who need to destroy a radio tower to cut off communication between the Nazis in a small town in France. However, it becomes apparent that disturbing experiments are taking place there which results in some amazing body horror, and used sparingly to great effect. The aesthetic and cinematography are really good, and at times feels like you’re watching a video game, particularly in one of the opening scenes when the soldiers jump out of a plane. Most elements of the films are done well, including the casting – Jovan Adepo is easy to empathise with as the moralistic protagonist, Boyce. Wyatt Russell (Kurt Russell’s son) stars as Ford, and proves himself to be a badass in his own right. This has to be one of the most underappreciated movies of the year.

 8. ‘You Might be the Killer’


This is proof that postmodern horror isn’t dead yet! ‘You Might be the Killer’ is best described as a slasher comedy that’s a cross between ‘The Mask’ and ‘Friday the 13th’, which isn’t a combination I would have imagined working, but it does. Fran Kranz stars as Sam, a camp counsellor who finds himself covered in blood, surrounded by murder victims, and experiencing memory loss. When he calls Chuck (Alyson Hannigan), his horror movie encyclopaedia of a friend, she suggests that Sam might actually be the killer. It’s a fun time that had me laughing out loud (how could I not at “The Kayak King”? You had to be there) but it also had me genuinely empathising with Sam’s character. Luckily the ending was left open, so there better be a sequel.  

 7. ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

‘Infinity War’ was easily one of the most hyped up movies of the year – after all, roughly 10 years of the MCU had been building up to this. This penultimate Avengers film brought together nearly everyone a nerd could dream of, as it also included the members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Having the Russo brothers at the helm was a brilliant choice, since Whedon’s ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ was so disappointing. The Avengers and co. team up in this epic crossover to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) from collecting all of the infinity stones, which would allow him to control the universe. There were a lot of concerns I had going into this film; that the tones of ‘Avengers’ and ‘Guardians’ would clash, it would be overcrowded, and that there would be too much comedy (which is usually my problem with some MCU films). Particularly after having my hopes crushed that ‘Age of Ultron’ would be darker as its trailer suggested, I thought ‘Infinity War’ was also giving me false hope for something with more depth. However, it managed to find the perfect balance between comedy and incredibly sad moments that genuinely brought a tear to my eye, and even stood up to multiple viewings. I was wonderfully surprised by how good it was, and it boasts some great performances from Zoe Saldana, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Robert Downey Jr. in particular. Now I can’t wait to see ‘Avengers: Endgame’, the end of the Avengers as we currently know them.  

 6. ‘Call me by Your Name’


‘Call me by Your Name’ is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, about a teenager in 1980s Italy called Elio (Timothee Chalamet) who falls for an older man that’s been hired as his father’s research assistant (played by Armie Hammer) for the summer. The film doesn’t rely on the narrative to be engaging, as not much really happens in terms of plot, but rather the chemistry between the two main characters. It’s sensual without being overly reliant on nudity or gratuitous sex scenes which is all thanks to the brilliant acting. Although Chalamet and Hammer are the main focus of the film, it’s impossible to go without mentioning Michael Stuhlbarg as Elio’s father, who delivers a beautiful monologue near the end which says what most people probably need to hear. Overall, it’s about love and cherishing moments of love while you can, and although not necessarily being a tragic movie I finished it feeling heartbroken for Elio (the last 2 minutes will do that to you, along with Sufjan Stevens’ contribution to the soundtrack). However, it’s a film that celebrates the whole spectrum of human emotion and encourages its audience to stop being afraid of getting hurt, but rather to feel pain when necessary instead of becoming numb to it.  

 5. ‘Anna and the Apocalypse’


When I heard this film was a zombie musical comedy (set during Christmas, I should add), I was already sold. While the concept is fairly simple, it’s something that could really easily have fallen flat but due to the catchy songs, incredibly talented cast and well-written script, it landed. A zombie apocalypse hits the town of Little Haven, so Anna and her friends have to fight for survival while they try to find their loved ones and make sure they’re safe. The main cast are mostly unknown but hopefully up-and-coming, because they’re all talented as hell with beautiful voices; Anna (Ella Hunt) and John’s (Malcom Cumming) voices sounds great together, and along with their friends are the most precious characters that you can’t help but root for (Sarah Swire as Steph is ridiculously adorable). Not only is it funny, but also has heart and packs an emotional punch. It’s now going to be added to my list of mandatory Christmas viewing, and I hope it becomes the cult hit that it deserves to be.

 4. ‘Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse’


You’d think after having 3 different versions of Spider-Man hitting our screens in the span of about 10 years that we wouldn’t need another one. That’s where you’d be wrong, because ‘Into the Spider-verse’ is possibly the one to beat them all. Rather than focusing completely on Peter Parker, this is Miles Morales’s story, a teenager who becomes the Spider-Man of his reality who has to team up with 5 others like him from different dimensions. Together, they need to stop the threat to their realities. Firstly, the animation is beautiful and unique. It has a comic book style that really makes it stand out in a way I haven’t seen much of before. It’s funny and emotional, and doesn’t just go over the same old story that we’re used to from previous adaptations. Bringing all the different versions of Spider-Man gave it a fresh perspective, and showed what the character is really about.  

 3. ‘Halloween’


I can’t say that a sequel to one of the most influential horror films of all time, one that defined the slasher genre, which was going to be directed by the guy behind the train wreck that is ‘Your Highness’ (2011), was something that sparked hope in me. However, I’m not too proud to admit when I’m so remarkably wrong about something, so here we go – I loved this movie. I didn’t have any expectations for it, and it surprised me in the best ways. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has to confront her fear of Michael Myers when he’s on the loose, and this time she has family to protect. It pays homage to the original without completely banking on nostalgia for its success, and it does a great job at reminding us of what a terrifying person Myers is. You know they did well with that when you actually think to yourself, “is Michael going to stab that baby?” at one point. The Shape returns more brutal than ever, with some violent death scenes but also retaining his fair share of off-screen kills. One thing I felt it actually improved on from the original was making me care more about the background characters who get killed off, whereas in the first film Laurie’s friends aren’t very likeable. However, the film does a good job of showing you snippets of the lives of the people who get killed through short conversations they’re having which was effective in getting more of a reaction out of their deaths. Furthermore, the film does also have an edge of comedy to it too (which isn’t a surprise considering Danny McBride of all people helped pen the script), so the characters feel more real. Curtis returns with what I believe is an Oscar-worthy performance, so this isn’t one to miss.

 2. ‘One Cut of the Dead’


The synopsis for ‘One Cut of the Dead’ goes a little something like this – when a Japanese crew are filming a low budget zombie movie in an abandoned warehouse, they end up being attacked by real zombies. However, that’s just one part of the film and it has so much more to it in ways that I didn’t expect at all. It’s best to go into this movie without knowing much about it, because you will be caught off guard by how smart, hilarious, and perfectly executed it is. According to IMDb, the first 37 minutes is one take and the whole film was shot in 8 days. If that’s true, then it’s a testament to the dedication of the cast and crew. This has quickly made it into my top 10 favourite films ever; it’s one of those ones you walk out of smiling, and reminds you of why movies are so amazing in the first place. At the end of the day, it’s about not only the difficulties of the filmmaking process itself but also the joys of it. This is a great time for anyone, even for people who might not be horror fans, and is best enjoyed in an audience.  

 1. ‘Ghost Stories’


Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman brought their stage play ‘Ghost Stories’ to the big screen in 2018, and it’s no secret how much I love it. Nyman co-wrote the script but also stars as Professor Phillip Goodman, who is asked to reconsider his scepticism of the supernatural and investigate three unexplained cases. Not only does it have brilliant performances all around – Paul Whitehouse did some of his best work here in my opinion, and Alex Lawther provides humour with his uneasy, paranoid character – but every element of the film is done well. The story is constructed well and has a good plot twist, the music will give you chills, even the jump scares don’t feel cheap. The camerawork and set designs are also something to be admired, especially in the third act. Independent horror films have had a good year to say the least.


So, it seems that 2018 was actually a pretty good year for film. Some others that I loved and are also very much worth watching are ‘Deadpool 2’, ‘You Were Never Really Here’, ‘Game Night’, ‘The Shape of Water’ and ‘The Death of Stalin’. Let’s hope the good stuff keeps coming in 2019!

The Conjuring Universe is one of the fast growing franchises in modern horror, however with prequels and sequels and spinoffs all over the damn place it is hard to figure out which film goes where in the timeline. WELL fear not dear reader as we have the full timeline wrapped up in a neat little package.
To celebrate The Nun arriving on Blu-ray and DVD January 14th, we’re taking a look back through The Conjuring Universe timeline to prepare you for the latest in the series.

Another year over and man what a good year for film. We have seen shockingly bad films (that is another list for another) but i'm my opinion we have had more joys than sorrows. We have seen the resurgence of great horror titles, violently gripping drama and some of the best comic book films in years BUT we still only have room for 10 titles on this list and what a hard choice it was.

Let my start with my honerable mentions:

The Greatest Showman: A highly entertaining musical with one hell of a soundtrack.
Jigsaw: A brilliant return to form for the Saw Franchise.
The Babysitter: A Hilarious Netflix Original that only just missed my top 10 list.  Horror fans will love this.
Red Turtle: Truly beautiful! something different for Studio Ghibli which makes you smile and will make you cry.

So what could have beat these films to the list? the following films are my own choices so with that in mind (yeah this won't make everyone happy but....opinions.....) let us start with..... 

10) Their Finest

One of many War films released during 2017, Their Finest is a sweet love story under the setting of the Second World War. The film follows A former secretary who finds herself writing propaganda films for  the British film industry. Well written, funny and heartwarming this is a film which slipped under the radar but landed in my best of.

9) Going In Style

While the story has been used a bit over the years, this trio of acting legends made this film what it is and that is a bloody funny and very entertaining comedy about three friends, screwed out of their pensions by a money grabbing boss who decide to rob the bank that holds the companies money to get what is owed to them.

There is so many laugh out loud moments in this film (I love the scene where the three men are practicing shop lifting) and is great way to spend a film watching evening . Caine does comedy really well and this film shows it.

8) Detroit

Wow...just...wow... Detroit is just one of those movies that deserves to win some oscars this year. This is such a harrowing film, so raw and gritty. The type of film that makes you feel disgusted by humanity. The racial themes of the film, the violence of an era in American history will make you talk about it, will make you feel feelings you wouldn't normal explore.

It is a hard one to watch but Detroit is one of the best true life dramas I have seen in many years.

7) Paddington 2

I went into this film wanting to hate it. I left this film totally loving it. This is the perfect family film. We have a furry hero, and mystery to be solved and a dastardly villain in the form of Hugh Grant, Paddington 2 will leave you howling with laughter and wanting Marmalade sandwiches.

The film is full of brilliant British actors and actresses and is one you should be watching straight away, even if you hated the first film.

6) Spiderman Homecoming

This was my most anticipated film of 2017 and I was not disappointed in the slightest. I am a HUGE fan of Spiderman and this film gave such a Ultimate Spiderman vibe for me. Tom Holland is a PERFECT Peter Parker and an Amazing (pun intended) Spiderman.

I also loved Keaton as Vulture and I loved the addition of Iron Man as it cements Spiderman's place in the MCU and hopefully with Avengers Infinity War, an animated Spiderman delving into the Spiderverse story and Tom Hardy led Venom coming this year I am more excited than ever to be a Spiderman fan.

5) Jumani: Welcome To The Jungle

I will not lie, I was all than ready to condemn this film the moment I saw it was going to be a thing. The trailers came along and again I was ready to write a long winded review slagging it off. How wrong I was. Jumani: Welcome to the Jungle is a perfect follow up to one of mine, and many others, childhood favorites and has a stella cast of brilliantly funny actors. Jack Black acting as a selfie loving teen girl makes the film what it is while Dwayne Johnson brings his trademark Rock-ness we all love him for. The whole cast in fact is great Hart is funny as hell and Gillan is kick arse, this on top of her role in Guardians 2 this year has cemented her place in hollywood blockbuster scene.

You need to see this, you will love this. The sleeper hit of the autumn film slate.

4) Cars 3

Again a film I was ready to pan but this time it was justified after the AWFUL Cars 2. Cars 3 however was Pixar doing what Pixar does so so well, it took a franchise are reinvents it back to its original greatness (Look at Toy Story 2 and the brillaint Toy Story 3....yeah not a fan of Toy Story 2 so there you go). This film is perfection, no doubt the best animated film of 2017 followed by The Red Turtle

3) Logan

​The greatest X-Men film of all time. One of the most heart wrenching portrayals of the Wolverine character put on screen and the best film I have seen Jackman in for YEARS. Logan takes the superhero genre and turns it into an action drama. Based VERY loosely of the Old Man Logan character (VERY VERY VERY LOOSELY) we are shown how R-Rated superhero films can be. You don't need CGI and over the top moments, just a great story, a great cast and an opening for more greatness to follow.

2) IT

Well this one was going to be brilliant wasn't it! from one of the legends of horror and modern take on what was one of the biggest tv films in horror IT blew every other horror genre films out of the water in 2017. IT was bloody creepy, it was balls to the wall scary and I can't wait till the second part. Skarsgard's portrayal of IT equals Tim Curry's killer clown, and I may even have to go as far as to say was BETTER in alot of ways.

1) Thor Ragnarok

Going down the Guardians route, and taking a leaf out of the You Tube Skits of Thor during the events of Civil War, Thor Ragnarok takes the humour and ramps it up to a million. This is by far my favourite MCU film of all time.  It was perfect! the humor is spot on, the villain was finally kick arse and this cancels out how mediocre the first two Thor films felt. We also got introduced the one of the best side characters in ages in Korg! I bloody love Korg and anything with Goldbulm is epic.

What will you be doing for your work Christmas party this year? fancy something different to book in for you and your friends to end the year with a bang?

Well why  not book a day in an abandoned Mall full of flesh eating zombies!