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!

Tis the season to be jolly...and to buy the perfect gift for your loved ones. But what do you get the entertainment loving person in your life that isn't the usual DVD or Blu-Ray. Well here at Snakebite we have a range of gift ideas that will hopefully give that extra little love into those gifts. 

First up today is a new friend of the site, Absolute Cult. Absolute Cult is your one stop shop for the best movie and TV jumpers, t-shirts and wearable gifts and what is best to buy you loved one this year? well why not a themed x-mas jumper!

Fancy a Christmas stroll through Camp Crystal Lake? or how about letting the Christmas Force flow through your clothing!!!  or maybe you would like a a DC Christmas perfect for the suicide squad! Absolute Cult has the design for you.

.And you don't have to stop at Christmas. Absolute Cult is a new omni-channel retail brand selling officially licensed merchandise covering music, movies, comic book superheroes, TV shows and other pop culture characters across 190 countries world-wide.

So if you want some Punsiher gear or something you fear they will have the right clothing for you. 

​Check them out over at www.Absolutecult.com and follow them on twitter @AbsoluteCult

All images are copyright of Absolute Cult © Absolute Cult 2017

In a sneak peek at 78/52, a look into the iconic Psycho shower scene, we have a special clip from the director of Pans Labyrinth  Guillermo Del Toro.

An unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO, the 'Man behind the Curtain', and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema. 78/52 references the number of set-ups (78) and the number of cuts (52) in the shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO. One entire week out of the four weeks scheduled to shoot PSYCHO -- a full quarter of the film’s production schedule -- was dedicated to the infamous shower scene.
 
“If PSYCHO changed the way people shower, it’s safe to say that after watching 78/52, you will never look at the shower scene the same way again.” – Director Alexandre O. Phillipe

 It’s finally October – the best time of year, when you can test just how long it’s possible to stay awake and marathon as many horror films as possible. However, sometimes it’s tough deciding what ones to watch when there’s so many to choose from, and so many horror subgenres on top of that. Maybe you just want to find something a little different and unique, so here’s a list of top 10 films for Halloween that might be less known to mainstream audiences, or just aren’t appreciated enough in my opinion. Keeping it to 10 was very difficult, but here are the ones that made it:

10. ‘The Cottage’ (2008)
​
This film written and directed by Paul Andrew Adams (best known for his work on ‘Broadchurch’) stars Andy Serkis and Reece Shearsmith as two brothers who rent a cottage in the remote countryside to keep their kidnapping victim hostage. This starts out as a crime film but gradually becomes horror – choosing somewhere quiet doesn’t turn out to be an advantage for these characters when they come across a monstrous, psychotic farmer. This might be slow-paced at first for some, but the dynamic between Serkis and Shearsmith can be amusing and provides some black humour. Die-hard horror fans can also enjoy a cameo from ‘Hellraiser’ actor Doug Bradley. Side note: if you love dark comedy and twisted horror, also watch the ‘Inside No. 9’ anthology TV series created by Shearsmith and his writing partner Steve Pemberton.   

9. ‘You’re Next’ (2011)
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I haven’t watched this one in a while, but I remember liking it nonetheless. Erin, an Australian college student, accompanies her boyfriend at a family reunion. They come under attack by a group of masked killers, and Erin steps up to be the badass of the movie. There’s a few creepy moments, plenty of brutal violence (especially in the third act), and although some people might not like the twist, the ending is the most enjoyable thing it has to offer because it’s cruelly ironic in a way. This is one for slasher horror fans in particular.  

8. ‘Tucker and Dale vs Evil’ (2010)
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‘Tucker and Dale vs Evil’ is a hilarious horror-comedy about two hillbillies who go on holiday to a creepy old cabin in the woods, and are mistaken to be murderers by group of college students due to a few misunderstandings. What really makes this film worth watching is the two charismatic lead actors – Tyler Labine, and everyone’s favourite Alan Tudyk. In addition, not only are the jokes original even though comedy based on misunderstanding could easily be cliché, but it also offers an important message about judging others based on stereotypes. And yes, there’s gore.  

7. ‘The Ritual’ (2017)

This is a very recent film having only come out this month, but deserves to be talked about a lot more than it has been. Rafe Spall stars as guilt-ridden Luke, who witnessed his friend Robert being killed during a robbery and failed to step in and help him. To honour Robert’s memory, he goes on a hiking trip to Sweden along with a group of friends, but after they come across an abandoned house the become influenced by a dark force. Although this is clearly influenced by ‘The Blair Witch Project’, it doesn’t make it feel less original. It has moments of comedy with a laddish charm, as well as genuinely creepy scenes which are made more effective by seeing the characters trying so hard to understand what is happening to them. The ending will probably divide audiences as it is bold, but at least it doesn’t go with the most obvious explanations behind what happens. I also love the sets in Luke’s nightmare scenes, where parts of the shop where Robert died are integrated into the forest.   

​6. ‘The Final Girls’ (2015)
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Here’s another horror-comedy for you, in which Max (Taissa Farmiga) is grieving the loss of her mother who was a famous slasher film actress in the 80s, and during a screening of her film she becomes trapped in it along with her friends. They must make their way through the film and play by the slasher movie rules to survive. It’s an entertaining concept that makes fun of the clichés, and Thomas Middleditch who is best known for his role as Richard in ‘Silicon Valley’ is very entertaining. The film also has heart as it shows the process of Max trying get through the grieving process and move on from her mother’s death. This is a great one to watch with friends as it’s short and sweet.  

5. ‘Hush’ (2016)
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Writer/director Mike Flanagan – who has recently received critical acclaim after adapting Steven King’s novel ‘Gerald’s Game’ for Netflix – previously made ‘Hush’ which is a horror/thriller about a deaf writer called Maddie who retreats to a quiet setting, but becomes the target of a masked killer. She can’t scream for help as she’s also unable to speak, so she has to survive alone in silence. It’s interesting and unique to see a character with these conditions and how she overcomes even the less obvious difficulties in her life as well as this terrifying threat. I’ve watched this a few times now and it’s still just as intense. Furthermore, even in such a short amount of time (the film is only 1 hour 20 mins long), it’s hard not to root for Maddie.

4. ‘The Orphanage’ (2007)
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Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this film is about a woman called Laura who moves in with her family to the orphanage she grew up in so she can take in children with special needs. However, her son Simon starts to talk of invisible new friends, and eventually goes missing. We follow Laura through the months after this happening, as she desperately tries to find him. ‘The Orphanage’ is slow paced so it requires some patience, but it’s worth it since it has one of the best twist endings I’ve ever seen. It’s not what you’d expect, and it doesn’t hold back. It gets pretty dark, and took me by surprise so I finished the film totally mind-blown.  

3. ‘Raw’ (2016)
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This French horror film gained some attention when it was initially released, as there were reports of audience members fainting because of the gore. While this may have blown it a little out of proportion (or maybe I’m just desensitised at this point), it isn’t afraid to show some nasty cannibalism, that’s for sure. Young vet student Justine is forced into a rather disgusting hazing ritual that involves breaking her lifelong vegetarianism, and once she gets the taste for meat, she can’t seem to get enough. Her transformation from an innocent teenage girl to someone animalistic who can’t control her impulses is horrifying, and is done in a brilliant way without any cheap scares. It’s the physical and psychological impact of the transition on herself that is what makes it scary, not just the violence (although this does help drive the point home).  

2. ‘Get Out’ (2017)
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This movie is probably more of an obvious choice, but I don’t care because it deserves to be high up on any list. It deserves all the hype that surrounded its release. This is comedy writer/actor Jordan Peele’s directorial debut that deals with the new type of racism that can be found in Western society as it follows African-American photographer Chris’s experience of meeting his white girlfriend’s family for the first time. Their overly polite attitude towards him is uncomfortable, and hides something more sinister going on within the family. ‘Get Out’ succeeds in creating an eerie, uncomfortable atmosphere from Chris’s point of view, as well as a great sense of humour.  

1. ‘Train to Busan’ (2016)
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Go watch this movie right now. You won’t regret it. This is officially one of my favourite horror films of all time. It has zombies, good characters and it will probably make you cry. There’s a reason everyone was freaking out about this at Frightfest last year – it’s a new take on such a popular genre. The story follows the passengers on a train from Seoul to Busan, starting with a single father taking his daughter to see her mother on her birthday. However, a zombie virus breaks out and they have to survive the journey as more people become infected. Not only does the film successfully make you care about most of the characters in some way despite there are quite a lot of them, it has a wonderful, bittersweet ending to top it all off. The zombies are also pretty cool too, so there’s that.  

To celebrate the release of IT this weekend we have a special featurette to wet your gory desires.

Take a look and let us know your thoughts below!