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)
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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! 

I love zombie stories. There, I admitted it and I feel no shame. I know the sub-genre has suffered a great backlash, even as it remains hugely popular in modern entertainment. I, however, am an unabashed fan. I’ve published several zombie tales myself, and recently Apex Publications released a new edition of my first zombie novella Asylum, which features a brand new short story “Lunatics Running the Asylum.” As part of my promotional extravaganza I thought I would list some of my favorite zombie films and books.

Movies

Night of the Living Dead & Dawn of the Dead (originals)

Romero proved himself the master of the modern zombie tale, and it is hard to pick just one of his films as my favorite. These first two films I think showcase his storytelling power at its finest. Night may seem tame by today’s standards, but at the time it was made the film was daring and shocking and original. Even the casting of a black protagonist was bold for the era. The film almost single-handedly invented the modern zombie, taking it away from the Haitian voodoo tradition. The follow-up, Dawn, I thought was the first of his films to go full-fledged with the social commentary, satirizing American’s consumer culture. I think Romero really set the standard with these two films that all other zombie films after strive to live up to.

Dawn of the Dead (remake) & 28 Days Later

These are two examples of what became known as “fast zombies,” creatures that not only had an insatiable hunger for human flesh but could move with lightning speed, making them even more formidable monsters. Dawn, being a remake of a classic, had a lot to prove, but it played it smart. The film took the basic concept of the original and introduced new characters and scenarios into the mix. 28 Days Later was an “infected” story, one that presented zombies not as the undead but as merely diseased, and it told a story that was as much about the atrocities of which the human animal is capable as it was the monsters themselves.

The Returned & Maggie

​Here we have two movies that take a very original approach to the zombie story. They treat zombieism as a medical condition, a sickness that kills slowly so that the person infected suffers and knows exactly what is going to happen to him or her. In both cases, the films deal with the effects of such a condition would have on a family, what one may or may not be willing to do in order to save a loved one. The results are stories with a more emotional bent, that tug at the heart strings and get you invested in the characters.

World War Z by Max Brooks

This is probably my favorite zombie novel. What I think sets this one apart is the structure, the approach. He took what could have been a very straight-forward zombie tale and elevated it to another level. Looking back at the war against the undead through what is essentially an oral history was ingenious and put this book at the top of my list.

Book of the Dead edited by John Skipp & Craig Spector

​This anthology looks at a world where George Romero’s vision really happened, different authors telling stories from around the world, giving their own interpretations of how they think folks would react to a zombie apocalypse. The collection features stand-out tales by Stephen King, Phillip Nutman, Joe Lansdale, and Robert McCammon to name a few.

The Rising by Brian Keene

​This book delivers a unique take on the zombie, presenting not a mindless, shambling undead creature, but demons entering our world through the bodies of the dead, wearing the corpses like suits. The book is clever and exciting and gives new life to the subgenre.

Now the films and books I’ve listed here merely scratch the surface, tip of the proverbial iceberg as it were. The market is full of zombie stories, and while not all of it is good, there are plenty of quality tales out there to keep us all entertained. I’m proud to be a part of that tradition.

Mark Allan Gunnells loves to tell stories. He has since he was a kid, penning one-page tales that were Twilight Zone knockoffs. He likes to think he has gotten a little better since then. He loves reader feedback, and above all he loves telling stories. He lives in Greer, SC, with his husband Craig A. Metcalf.

​I am a few days late on this one but ahead of the upcoming Blu-ray and DVD release of of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (out on 4th September), we have for you the very funny music video from David Hasselhoff and some special guests for the track Guardians Inferno which has been hailed as a galactic retro dance party. The music video will also feature on the Blu-ray bonus features.

Check out the greatness below! and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Already a major hit in China, action blockbuster Wolf Warrior 2 topped the worldwide box office in its opening weekend and has broken several records. It also became the fastest Chinese film to break the one billion yuan (£113m) benchmark, reaching this in 85 hours.  

Written, directed by and starring action prodigy Wu Jing, 2015’s Wolf Warrior was a surprise hit and boasted slick, epic and cinematic action. Now, the sequel brings a fresh flavour with world class stunts and choreography from 87Eleven Action Design, the veteran Hollywood stunt team behind John Wick, Atomic Blonde and Captain America: Civil War. This huge success has cemented Wu Jing’s reputation as a force, and filmmaker, to be reckoned with.  
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To coincide with the UK release of Wolf Warrior 2, we look back at some of Wu Jing's best action roles which helped define his star power... 

Tai Chi Boxer (1996)

This modern genre classic is helmed by Hong Kong action legend, Yuen Woo-ping (Once Upon a Time in China, The Matrix), who first spotted our young star. The story follows a martial artist (Wu Jing) inspired by his heroic father to combat the violence of an opium-smuggling ring and win the girl of his dreams, if only it were that easy! Calling on his years of training and time spent as a member of the Beijing Wushu Team, Wu Jing dominates the screen and shares a now-famous showdown with late, great British martial arts actor Darren Shahlavi (Ip Man 2), which reportedly took 16 days to film

SPL (2005) 

A critically acclaimed, action-packed thriller from director Wilson Yip (Ip Man trilogy). Boasting an all-star cast, a straight-arrow detective (Donnie Yen) reluctantly teams with a group of rogue cops to bring down a notorious Triad boss (Sammo Hung). Wu Jing plays Sammo's ruthless assassin and shares a tense, brutal fight in an alley with Donnie, which many consider a real highlight from both stars' careers.  

Fatal Contact (2006)  

Giving the fight tournament formula an Eastern twist, naive and penniless Olympic champion (Wu Jing) agrees to try his hand on the illegal fight circuit to support his girlfriend. Thinking he can earn a fast buck and leave, he is drawn deeper underground until he can summon the courage to fight back. With tough action choreographed by Nicky Li from the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, Wu Jing trained hard to prepare for his role, received injuries and even said, at the time, it was his toughest work to date. 
 

Invisible Target (2007) 

From popular director Benny Chan (New Police Story), Invisible Target is an exhilarating, fast-paced action thriller showcasing a younger generation of action stars. A group of cops from different backgrounds (Nicolas Tse, Jaycee Chan, Shawn Yue) unite to bring down a gang of mercenaries led by a ruthless boss (Wu Jing). The cast, well known for their physical skills, were requested to perform all of their own action and stunts throughout filming, adding to the authenticity. 

Fatal Move (2008) 

In a powerful criminal empire, a Triad boss (Sammo Hung), his troubled brother (Simon Yam) and lethal hit man (Wu Jing) work to systematically unravel their enemies, both inside and outside the organisation. Cue plenty of hard-hitting violence and gutsy action. The film presented a wealth of veteran genre stars across its cast, arguably one of the best ensembles from a Hong Kong movie. According to Wu Jing, during fight rehearsals, Sammo would throw him friendly surprise moves to see how he would react. Despite these antics, they enjoy working together and have great mutual respect. 
 

Legendary Assassin (2008) 

As Wu Jing's first foray into filmmaking, he co-directed this movie with the Jackie Chan Stunt Team's Nicky Li. Combining martial arts, action and romance, as assassin (Wu Jing) inadvertently befriends a woman after his latest kill, not knowing she is a cop. Meanwhile, criminals descend on the quiet island community looking for revenge against the mysterious assassin. This also marked the screen debut of singer, songwriter and model Celina Jade (TV's Arrow, Skin Trade) who would later reunite with Wu Jing for Wolf Warrior 2. 

Wolf Warrior (2015) 

A big box office hit in China, the first Wolf Warrior made an impact with Western fans too, a fun throwback to larger-than-life 1980's action cinema. A loose cannon special forces soldier (Wu Jing) is confronted by a group of deadly foreign mercenaries hired to assassinate him by a vicious drug lord. In the martial arts and ballistic carnage, Wu Jing goes toe-to-toe with the mercenary leader, played by Brit action star Scott Adkins (Undisputed 2-4, The Expendables 2). Writing, directing and starring in the film, it proved to be Wu Jing's most ambitious work yet. 

SPL II: A Time for Consequences (2015) 

A name-only sequel to Wilson Yip's gritty original, SPL II takes an entirely new story with returning cast members Wu Jing and Simon Yam (Election) playing different characters, plus new cast additions Tony Jaa (Ong Bak) and Max Zhang (Ip Man 3). Combining a tight script with great action, and the cops and criminal themes of classic Hong Kong cinema, the film was well received by fans and critics alike.  

Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) 

Following the success of the original, this proved to be an even bigger hit, breaking global box office records. Reviving the character with a fresh new story, the heroic 'Wolf Warrior' hopes to settle into a quiet life by the sea. But after he crosses paths with a new band of mercenaries, overseen by a volatile and sadistic leader (Frank Grillo, Warrior, Captain America: Civil War), he must reaffirm his duty as a soldier and put an end to the terrorizing of innocent civilians. As the action movie event of the year, Wolf Warrior 2 is a must-see for genre fans and hopefully marks more to come from this exciting franchise.  

Cine Asia and CMC Pictures presents Wolf Warrior 2  in selected cinemas now 

For tickets and showtimes head to:

ODEON website here