|
5/5
|
Nightmare Alley
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
This is Del Toro firing on all cylinders, a beautifully crafted, richly atmospheric and thrillingly dark-hearted drama that packs a powerful punch.
Posted Jan 25, 2022
|
|
4/5
|
Scream
(2022)
|
Matthew Turner
|
The film succeeds admirably, dutifully following all its own rules, yet still managing to pull off genuine shocks and surprises.
Posted Jan 13, 2022
|
|
2/5
|
The Matrix Resurrections
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Despite the best efforts of the cast and a small handful of good moments, this is a chaotic mess that fails to justify its existence.
Posted Dec 21, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Titane
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
A mesmerising French body horror that's as shocking and as unsettling as it is weird and wonderful.
Posted Dec 21, 2021
|
|
5/5
|
Spider-Man: No Way Home
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
By any standards, it's an extraordinary achievement, delivering everything you could possibly want from a Spider-Man movie and more.
Posted Dec 15, 2021
|
|
5/5
|
Lamb
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Suffused with slow-burn tension and showcasing some inspired special-effects work, this is one of the best genre films of the year.
Posted Dec 10, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
The Green Knight
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
This is a decidedly unique fantasy epic that deserves to be experienced on the biggest screen possible. It also confirms David Lowery as a major talent, and it will be fascinating to see what he does next.
Posted Dec 07, 2021
|
|
2.5/5
|
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Ironically, the more slavishly it attempts to recreate the original movie, the worse it gets, and the ending comes very close to scuppering the entire thing.
Posted Nov 24, 2021
|
|
2/5
|
Halloween Kills
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
[This] frequently feels like a poorly thought out rush job, treading water until the third film in the trilogy.
Posted Oct 21, 2021
|
|
5/5
|
The Last Duel
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Brilliantly acted and cleverly written, it exerts a powerful grip for every second of its two-and-a-half hour running time.
Posted Oct 21, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Dune
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Villeneuve brings Herbert's cult novel to the screen in spectacular fashion, delivering exciting action, political intrigue, compelling characters and jaw-dropping visuals.
Posted Oct 21, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
No Time to Die
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
"Delivers the expected rush of thrills, cars, explosions, gadgets and so on, while also pushing emotional buttons you don't normally associate with the Bond franchise."
Posted Sep 29, 2021
|
|
3.5/5
|
Gunpowder Milkshake
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
"Very much a film of surface pleasures, but it's hard to complain when those pleasures are so much fun."
Posted Sep 23, 2021
|
|
2/5
|
Space Jam: A New Legacy
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
There are six writers on this film and not one of them can muster up anything inventive or funny for the Tune Squad to do, let alone anything that's actually in character
Posted Jul 17, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Fear Street Part Three: 1666
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Capitalising nicely on the previous two entries, the third film serves as a satisfying end to a highly entertaining trilogy.
Posted Jul 17, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Ladyhawke
(1985)
|
Matthew Turner
|
A thoroughly delightful fantasy romance that holds up remarkably well and deserves to be rediscovered by today's younger audiences.
Posted Jul 09, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Fear Street Part Two: 1978
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Drawing on the likes of Friday the 13th, Fear Street 1978 delivers shocks, scares and axe-based horror, while cleverly setting up the third and final instalment.
Posted Jul 09, 2021
|
|
3/5
|
The Tomorrow War
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
The Tomorrow War has its good and bad moments, but it mostly gets the job done, even if there's a nagging feeling that it's not quite as good as it could have been.
Posted Jul 09, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Black Widow
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Impressively acted and directed, Black Widow delivers action, humour and emotion in the mighty Marvel manner.
Posted Jul 09, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Fear Street Part One: 1994
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Cleverly blending '90s horror nostalgia with more modern sensibilities, Fear Street serves up decent scares and some nice ideas.
Posted Jul 09, 2021
|
|
2/5
|
Chaos Walking
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
[This is] ultimately something of a disappointment, thanks to its poorly executed central set-up and a sub-standard script.
Posted Apr 29, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Mortal Kombat
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Combining gore-soaked fight moves, familiar characters and a dash of self-referential wit, it's one of the best video-game adaptations to date.
Posted Apr 29, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Love and Monsters
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
A hugely enjoyable monster adventure, thanks to a strong concept, imaginative direction, likeable performances and Oscar-nominated creature designs.
Posted Apr 29, 2021
|
|
5/5
|
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
(2021)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Fast-paced, funny and filled with great characters, it's one of the best films of the year.
Posted Apr 29, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Vicious Fun
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Vicious Fun delivers handsomely on the promise of its title, serving up a brightly coloured cocktail of laughs, scares, suspense and gore, mixed with plenty of genre thrills.
Posted Mar 30, 2021
|
|
4/5
|
Wonder Woman 1984
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
If you're looking for an uplifting, punch-the-air hit of superhero cinema in the hellstorm that is 2020, Wonder Woman 1984 delivers with bells on.
Posted Dec 18, 2020
|
|
2.5/5
|
Songbird
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Diverting enough to pass the time if you're after a few cheap thrills, without actually being any good.
Posted Dec 11, 2020
|
|
5/5
|
Possessor: Uncut
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Bold, striking, brimming with breathtakingly original ideas and filled with deeply shocking violence, it's one of the best films of the year.
Posted Nov 30, 2020
|
|
3.5/5
|
Bill & Ted Face the Music
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Goofy and good-natured, the film captures the spirit of the original movies and the chemistry between the loveable San Dimas doofuses remains undimmed.
Posted Sep 16, 2020
|
|
4/5
|
Unhinged
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
With a pulse-pounding combination of old school thrills and a terrific lead performance, it's the perfect escapism for these troubled times.
Posted Aug 06, 2020
|
|
4/5
|
The Old Guard
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
With great performances, exciting direction and a strong central message, this is one of the best action films of the year.
Posted Jul 10, 2020
|
|
4/5
|
The Hunt
(2020)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Another winner for Blumhouse, thanks to exciting genre thrills, a sharply satirical, frequently funny script and a powerhouse central performance from Gilpin.
Posted Mar 11, 2020
|
|
4/5
|
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
A thrilling conclusion to the Skywalker Saga that offers action, emotion and humour, while finding the right balance in appealing to both old and new audiences.
Posted Dec 18, 2019
|
|
5/5
|
Knives Out
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
A beautifully written, superbly directed and deliciously acted thriller that's alive to the pleasures of the mystery genre.
Posted Nov 30, 2019
|
|
4/5
|
Doctor Sleep
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
An immensely satisfying story that stands as a worthy sequel to both Kubrick's film and King's original novel.
Posted Nov 01, 2019
|
|
4/5
|
Terminator: Dark Fate
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Easily the best Terminator sequel since T2, although, in fairness, that's a pretty low bar to clear.
Posted Oct 25, 2019
|
|
4/5
|
Zombieland: Double Tap
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
If you were a fan of the first film, then the sequel delivers everything you could possibly hope for, thanks to terrific gags, exciting zombie moments and off-the-scale comic chemistry between the four leads.
Posted Oct 18, 2019
|
|
2.5/5
|
The Dead Don't Die
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
The deadpan performances and laid-back aesthetic are just as Jarmuschian as you might hope, but the writing feels lazy and the film lacks the necessary bite.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
4/5
|
Midsommar
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
A deeply disturbing and powerfully atmospheric slice of horror that laces its ever-sickening sense of dread with a jet-black streak of humour.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
5/5
|
Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
An elegiac, beautifully made and surprisingly moving tribute to 1960s Hollywood that is sure to reward multiple viewings.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
|
|
5/5
|
Apollo 11
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
An awe-inspiring film that does full justice to the extraordinary technical achievement of the moon mission.
Posted Jun 30, 2019
|
|
4/5
|
Spider-Man: Far From Home
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
A comics-savvy adventure that delivers action, humour and emotion in the mighty Marvel manner.
Posted Jun 30, 2019
|
|
2/5
|
Glass
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
As a conclusion to the trilogy, it's as frustrating as it is satisfying.
Posted Jun 14, 2019
|
|
3/5
|
Alita: Battle Angel
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
The film's biggest achievement is the way it makes Alita feel completely real, despite her enormous eyes and robo-limbs.
Posted Jun 14, 2019
|
|
5/5
|
What Keeps You Alive
(2018)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Taut, thrilling and packed with delicious twists and turns, this is a terrific indie horror that marks out Minihan as a serious talent to watch.
Posted Jun 14, 2019
|
|
3/5
|
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Pretty decent, as sequels go, and devotees of the first film (ages 4 to 45+) are unlikely to be disappointed.
Posted Jun 14, 2019
|
|
3/5
|
Escape Room
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
There's enough here to suggest that a sequel would not be entirely unwelcome. More Escape Rooms, please.
Posted Jun 14, 2019
|
|
2/5
|
The Kid Who Would Be King
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
[This] should play well with very young audience members, but dragged-along adults are likely to be disappointed.
Posted Jun 14, 2019
|
|
2.5/5
|
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
Non-Pokémon fans lured in by Reynolds' involvement would do well to note the film's PG rating.
Posted Jun 14, 2019
|
|
4/5
|
Velvet Buzzsaw
(2019)
|
Matthew Turner
|
A stylish and entertaining horror enlivened by fun performances, superb production design work and confident direction.
Posted Jun 14, 2019
|
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