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4/5
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Haunted Ulster Live
(2023)
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Niall Browne
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The laughs are well earned and the horror delivers some heft – especially the final moments which reminded me of the John Carpenter classic, Prince Of Darkness, as well as Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor.
Posted Nov 24, 2023
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3/5
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Crimes of the Future
(2022)
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Niall Browne
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Diverting without ever feeling essential, Crimes Of The Future is David Cronenberg treading water. It’s competently made and good to look at, but it lacks the weight or the shock factor of his finer work.
Posted Sep 17, 2023
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4/5
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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One
(2023)
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Niall Browne
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Tom Cruise reprises his now iconic role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt, giving yet another powerhouse physical performance that reaffirms his status as the most enduring (and best) action star in the business.
Posted Jul 20, 2023
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4/5
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The Flash
(2023)
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Niall Browne
|
The Flash is not without flaws – but those are inherent in many films within the genre, like the over-stuffed CG filled finale. However, for the most part The Flash is an excellent superhero adventure that has plenty to offer its audience.
Posted Jul 12, 2023
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3/5
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Skinamarink
(2022)
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Niall Browne
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Hit or miss depending on your disposition, there’s something hypnotically mesmerising about Skinamarink and it shows that Kyle Edward Ball has what it takes to be a filmmaker to watch out for in the future.
Posted Jul 11, 2023
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4/5
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Soldier
(1998)
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Niall Browne
|
Soldier finally deserves a reappraisal. The Kurt Russell starrer is actually a hugely entertaining and visually arresting piece of science fiction cinema – at the centre of it is a bold performance from Russell – one in which he only speaks 104 words.
Posted Jun 25, 2023
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2.5/5
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Boon
(2022)
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Niall Browne
|
The acting hits the mark and there’s plenty of gunplay to keep action fans entertained. It’s a shame that Boon’s limited budget means there’s little scope to open things up and deliver big visuals or big action.
Posted May 29, 2023
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3/5
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Hypnotic
(2023)
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Niall Browne
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Hypnotic is a twisty science fiction thriller from the mind of indie action auteur, Robert Rodriguez. The Ben Affleck starrer is an entertaining throwback piece, the type of film that Bruce Willis or even Affleck himself might have toplined 20 years ago.
Posted May 13, 2023
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1/5
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Last Contact
(2023)
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Niall Browne
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In a world filled with a never-ending stream of films and TV shows, you should do yourself a favour and decide to watch something (anything) other than Last Sentinel.
Posted Apr 29, 2023
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4/5
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Martin
(1978)
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Niall Browne
|
A film that was caught-up in the UK’s Video nasty kerfuffle in the 1980s, Romero often referred to Martin as his favourite film. It may lack the visceral thrills of some of his other work, it’s easy to see why the filmmaker would think so fondly of it.
Posted Mar 19, 2023
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2.5/5
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Cocaine Bear
(2023)
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Niall Browne
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More fluff than fur, Cocaine Bear lacks bite. It’s more like cocaine bore.
Posted Mar 19, 2023
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3.5/5
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Gateway
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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Ditching many of the commercial elements of the genre (masked killings, teenagers, jump-scares and exorcisms), Gateway plays out like a arthouse horror. It’s a film which quietly builds towards the climax, slowly unveiling its mysteries.
Posted Feb 19, 2023
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3/5
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
(2022)
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Niall Browne
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I enjoyed Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery well enough. It’s diverting entertainment, although its 139 minute running time is 20 minutes too long and it takes too much time to get the plot in motion.
Posted Dec 30, 2022
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4/5
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Top Gun: Maverick
(2022)
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Niall Browne
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So, why did Top Gun: Maverick strike such a cord with audiences? It’s a film about feeling relevant. About a changing world. Parenthood. Friendship. It resonates.
Posted Nov 18, 2022
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5/5
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The Most Dangerous Game
(1932)
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Niall Browne
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A film which runs a fine line between horror and adventure, The Most Dangerous Game is Hollywood classic that’s all killer and no filler.
Posted Oct 11, 2022
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4/5
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Pennywise: The Story of IT
(2021)
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Niall Browne
|
If you have an interest in any incarnation of Stephen King’s It, then I highly recommend Pennywise: The Story Of It. It’s a great look at the making of the iconic 1990 TV miniseries.
Posted Oct 02, 2022
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3/5
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Confess, Fletch
(2022)
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Niall Browne
|
Ultimately, you need to watch Confess, Fletch – because if you don’t then you’ll be the reason why this incarnation of Fletch isn’t turned into a franchise. Consider that a warning – because they really do need to make at least two more of these.
Posted Sep 18, 2022
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3.5/5
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One Way
(2022)
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Niall Browne
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It may sound highfalutin to say that it’s almost Steinbeckian in its portrayal of the transitory American working class, but One Way has the grit and grim of old fashioned Americana.
Posted Sep 03, 2022
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5/5
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Dog Soldiers
(2002)
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Niall Browne
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Dog Soldiers is a film where all the elements came together at the right time and in the right order. It’s a perfect storm of talent and the film is pretty much perfect.
Posted Aug 30, 2022
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4/5
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The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
(2022)
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Niall Browne
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A refreshing an entertaining comedy, The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent works as a film on its own merits but it also excels at being an appreciation of one of Hollywoods true acting mavericks.
Posted Apr 20, 2022
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5/5
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The Passion of the Christ
(2004)
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Niall Browne
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Mel Gibsons The Passion Of The Christ is a powerful piece of cinema. Its a breathtaking, bravura biblical epic which resonates on multiple levels. The filmmaker set out to tell a story and he delivered a film which while divisive is a masterpiece.
Posted Apr 15, 2022
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4/5
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Broadcast Signal Intrusion
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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Broadcast Signal Intrusion really delivers on slow creeping atmosphere. Directed by Jacob Gentry and written by Phil Drinkwater and Tim Woodall, it riffs on a few classic movies but its a credit to the films construction that nothing feels derivative.
Posted Apr 05, 2022
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4/5
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Deep Water
(2022)
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Niall Browne
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Deep Water is an intriguing thriller which is a throwback to the type of film Hollywood used to frequently turn-out in the '80s and '90s. If youre in the mood for an expertly produced retro domestic thriller then Deep Water is the movie for you.
Posted Mar 15, 2022
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3.5/5
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The Batman
(2022)
|
Niall Browne
|
While it might not be the greatest Batman story ever told, its good to see someone attempting to try something a little different with the character and the genre and that alone means The Batman has an excellent defence for its existence.
Posted Mar 08, 2022
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3.5/5
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Last Survivors
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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Director Drew Mylrea delivers a clever and entertaining dramatic thriller with Last Survivors. Starring Stephen Moyer, Drew Van Acker and Alicia Silverstone, the film is a dramatic thriller which adds a new spin to the dystopian science fiction genre.
Posted Feb 06, 2022
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5/5
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Belfast
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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A wondrously nostalgic look at his childhood, Kenneth Branagh's Belfast is a heartfelt and emotionally powerful piece of cinema. Branagh has crafted a film where whimsy and realism sit side-by-side.
Posted Jan 24, 2022
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4/5
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Session 9
(2001)
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Niall Browne
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Slow burning and atmospheric, Brad Anderson's Session 9 has aged exceptionally well since it was first released back in 2001. This is because of its strong cast, well-honed characterisation and the atmospheric location work of the chiller's setting.
Posted Jan 06, 2022
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4/5
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The Tender Bar
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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It might not be a film which gets the blood pressure rising, or goes for big and bold dramatic moments, but George Clooney's The Tender Bar is a well honed coming of age drama which delivers in a heartfelt and well intentioned way.
Posted Dec 30, 2021
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4/5
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Titane
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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Titane scored raves at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or. It's a film where arthouse cinema and the horror genre converge to deliver a hybrid movie which is a boundary pushing and genre blurring piece of cinema.
Posted Dec 20, 2021
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4/5
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Hurt
(2018)
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Niall Browne
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Hurt is a film which works way beyond its genre trappings. Yes, it's a horror film (and a dark one at that) but it also has the construction of an excellent drama. It's this what ultimately makes Hurt the best horror film of the year.
Posted Dec 12, 2021
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4/5
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Nash Bridges
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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Easy Bubba! Don Johnson is back as Nash Bridges - and he's giving fans exactly what they want!
Posted Nov 25, 2021
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4/5
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The Shattering
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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A very strong debut from Daria Nazarova, The Shattering is a small psychological thriller which delivers within the confines of its genre, however it's also a film which works incredibly well as a character piece.
Posted Nov 03, 2021
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4/5
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The Guest
(2014)
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Niall Browne
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A lean and mean thriller, director Adam Wingard's The Guest is a hugely entertaining affair. Wingard and screenwriter Simon Barrett keep this retro-style pic simple in order to craft some tense moments and punchy action sequences.
Posted Oct 31, 2021
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4.5/5
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No Time to Die
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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No Time To Die not only marks the 25th instalment in the James Bond franchise, but it also ends Daniel Craig's 15 year tenure as Bond and ensures that Craig's 007 goes out on an all-time high.
Posted Sep 30, 2021
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3.5
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Mr. Klein
(1976)
|
Niall Browne
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Joseph Losey's French drama, Mr Klein (Monsieur Klein) is a quietly understated WWII thriller which features a powerful-yet-subdued performance from Alain Delon in the title role.
Posted Sep 30, 2021
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5/5
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The Card Counter
(2020)
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Niall Browne
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It's not hyperbole to say that Paul Schrader might just have delivered the film of the year with The Card Counter.
Posted Sep 20, 2021
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2.5
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Prisoners of the Ghostland
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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Much like Nicolas Cage's recent theme-park horror Willy's Wonderland, Prisoners Of The Ghostland is a film with an intriguing premise (and an excellent trailer) which is let down by its execution.
Posted Sep 19, 2021
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4/5
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Those Who Wish Me Dead
(2021)
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Niall Browne
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Everything about Taylor Sheridan's Those Who Wish Me Dead feels like it was made in 1998 and they somehow forgot to release until 2021. I mean that as a compliment, I really do.
Posted Sep 02, 2021
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3/5
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Crime Story
(2021)
|
Niall Browne
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Good performances from the leads and a few complex plot points mean that The Last Job delivers unique ideas which bump it up above the average revenge thriller.
Posted Sep 01, 2021
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4/5
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Mosquito State
(2020)
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Niall Browne
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Beautifully crafted and featuring strong performances, Mosquito State is a fascinating curiosity of a film which tries - and succeeds - to be different.
Posted Aug 25, 2021
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4/5
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Pig
(2021)
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Niall Browne
|
On paper, the set-up for Pig may lead to eye-rolling and chuckles, but it's a film with a lot of integrity and a strong emotional core. Like a good chef, it brings the elements together to create something tasty, edifying and very memorable.
Posted Aug 22, 2021
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3.5
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Jakob's Wife
(2021)
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Niall Browne
|
It would be easy to label Travis Stevens' Jakob's Wife as just a vampire movie. It's a relationship drama about a middle-aged couple re-finding (and redefining) their love. It just so happens the wife in the relationship is a vampire.
Posted Aug 16, 2021
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4/5
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Censor
(2021)
|
Niall Browne
|
Prano Bailey-Bond makes a powerful cinematic statement with her feature length directorial debut, Censor. This 1980s-set horror is a lyrical piece of nightmare poetry, one which draws you into its dark and hallucinogenic heart.
Posted Aug 09, 2021
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1/5
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Midnight in the Switchgrass
(2021)
|
Niall Browne
|
Another week brings another movie that sees the once great Bruce Willis sleepwalk his way through 12 minutes of screen-time for a $1 million payday. This time around the film is Midnight In The Switchgrass.
Posted Jul 29, 2021
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2/5
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Out of Death
(2021)
|
Niall Browne
|
Those with a passing knowledge of Bruce Willis' ever-growing list of VOD credits know that this is a one-and-done scenario which saw the Die Hard star on set for one day before the rest of his material is shot by a follicly-challenged stand-in.
Posted Jul 20, 2021
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4/5
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Embattled
(2020)
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Niall Browne
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Director Nick Sarkisov's Embattled is a punchy sports drama that delivers blow after blow. Stephen Dorff is fantastic as the MMA fighter who enters the ring to take on his 18 year-old son.
Posted Jul 05, 2021
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4/5
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Killer Joe
(2011)
|
Niall Browne
|
The great William Friedkin's Killer Joe is raw and visceral. It's not a pleasant watch by any stretch of the imagination- but it is good. Very good.
Posted Jun 24, 2021
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2/5
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Chapter 27
(2007)
|
Niall Browne
|
Chapter 27 is a plodding curiosity of a film that ignores everything that could have made it interesting.
Posted Jun 24, 2021
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1/5
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Pedro
(2008)
|
Niall Browne
|
This true life tale isn't a very good film and the script offers nothing new to the biopic genre.
Posted Jun 24, 2021
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4/5
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Atlantic City
(1980)
|
Niall Browne
|
The bleak cinematography and subtle score give Atlantic City a hypnotic quality and it obviously inspired Bruce Springsteen's track of the same name from his Nebraska album - in fact lines from the song are "borrowed" from Guare's screenplay.
Posted Jun 24, 2021
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